THURSDAY, JULI 25, 1985
6
THE TERRITORY'S COMMITMENT TO THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS WAS STRESSED. THERE ARE COMPREHENSIVE LAWS COVERING TRADE MARKS, TRADE DESCRIPTIONS, COPYRIGHT, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS AND PATENTS AND SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO ENFORCEMENT.
+HONG KONG DOES NOT HAVE ANY TRADE-DISTORTING INVESTMENT PRACTICES OR POLICIES,+ SAID THE STATEMENT. +FREE MARKET INFLUENCES PREDOMINATE IN HONG KONG AND GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THIS AREA IS STRICTLY LIMITED. THERE IS NO CENTRAL DIRECTION GIVEN TO ANY OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY, OTHER THAN EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE HONG KONG INDUSTRY TO DIVERSIFY FROM ITS HEAVY RELIANCE ON THE TEXTILES SECTOR.+
THE TERRITORY'S LIBERAL POLICIES ON SERVICES WERE DEMONSTRATED BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF FOREIGN FIRMS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BANKING, INSURANCE, ADVERTISING AND ENGINEERING. BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCALLY-OWNED COMPANIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS COVERING REGISTRATION AND OPERATION.
FINALLY IT WAS STATED THAT THE TERRITORY'S LABOUR FORCE ENJOYS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED WORKERS' RIGHTS AND THAT COMPREHENSIVE LABOUR LEGISLATION IS IN FORCE REFLECTING HONG KONG'S STATUS AS A SIGNATORY TO INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS.
+ BOAT BRIDES+ GIVEN MORE TIME TO LEAVE
* * * *
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING AGREED TO A REQUEST BY THE HUSBANDS OF THE 14 + BOAT BRIDES+ TO GIVE THE WOMEN TWO MORE WEEKS TO PREPARE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE FOR CHINA.
THE REQUEST HAD BEEN MADE AT A MEETING THIS MORNING BETWEEN THE HUSBANDS AND AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR C.S. TANG.
IN AGREEING TO THE REQUEST BY THE HUSBANDS OF THE 14 +BOAT BRIDES+, WHO ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO CHINA BECAUSE THEY HAVE BREACHED THEIR CONDITIONS OF STAY, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT EMPHASISED THAT NO FURTHER DELAYS WOULD BE ALLOWED.
*WE EXPECT THE MATTER TO BE RESOLVED BY AUGUST 9,+
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
AT THE MEETING, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO AGREED TO HELP ANY + 30AT BRIDE+ WHO MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ARRANGING FOR HER DEPARTURE.
ARRANGEMENTS TO RETURN BY LAND WOULD BE MADE BY THE EPARTMENT FOR THOSE WOMEN WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN
THINE IN THEIR OWN BOATS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/+AS REGARDS