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EARLIER, MRS CHOW COMMENTED THAT WE MIGHT BE IN DANGER OF HAVING +TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT+ IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
WE MUST NOW TAKE STOCK AND PONDER AS TO HOW WE SHOULD CONTINUE, SHE SAID.
IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC HOUSING, SHE SAID QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED WHETHER WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD SO MANY RENTAL UNITS AND SO LITTLE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME UNITS- WHETHER THE RATIO SHOULD BE ADJUSTED AND WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER PROMOTION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
+PERHAPS THE TIME HAS ALSO COME TO EXAMINE AFRESH, WHETHER PUBLIC HOUSING GENERALLY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE SOCIAL WELFARE, OR WHETHER IN THE HONG KONG OF TODAY, THIS IS A PAGE OF HISTORY BEST LEFT IN THE PAST,+ SHE SAID.
ON EDUCATION, MRS CHOW SAID THERE SHOULD BE A LOOK AT THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE AIDED SECTOR AND FOR SOCIAL WELFARE, THE ROLE OF SUBVENTED AGENCIES.
APART FROM THE PRIVATISATION OF SERVICES, MRS CHOW SAID SHE BELIEVED GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-THINK ITS PRESENT POLICY REGARDING THE ORGANISATION AND CONTRIBUTION OF IDEAS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AT PRESENT, SHE SAID, WHEN AN INNOVATIVE IDEA WAS PROPOSED TO GOVERNMENT AND WAS FOUND TO BE FEASIBLE, THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE ORIGINATOR OF THE IDEA WAS PROTECTED. THE NORMAL PROCEDURE WAS THAT THE IDEA WAS RELEASED FOR PUBLIC TENDER.
+THIS MOVE AIMS NO DOUBT TO OBVIATE THE ACCUSATION OF
FAVOURITISM.
+BUT IN PROTECTING ITSELF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY DOING AN INJUSTICE TO THE INVENTOR OF THE IDEA, BUT ALSO DETERS OTHERS FROM PUTTING THEIR IDEAS FORWARD, THEREBY DEPRIVING THE COMMUNITY OF THE BENEFITS OF BRILLIANT IDEA, SHE SAID.
MRS CHOW THEN VOICED HER SUPPORT FOR THE LIFTING OF DUTIES ON COSMETICS AND NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ONCE WE COULD AFFORD TO DO SO.
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