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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1986
HE ALSO SAID HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE EASIEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO SET UP AND RUN A BUSINESS, AND WILL REMAIN SO FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
+ IT IS PROBABLY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD TODAY BECAUSE WE NOT ONLY TALK OF FREE TRADE, WE ALSO PRACTISE IT.
+THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE AS FAR AS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES ARE CONCERNED IS TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST POSSIBLE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, A FAVOURABLE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE AND RELEVANT SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WHILST LEAVING BUSINESSMEN FREE TO MAKE UNTRAMMELED COMMERCIAL DECISIONS.
+WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT NETWORK OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS, A FULL RANGE OF BACK-UP SERVICES APPROPRIATE TO ONE OF THE LEADING BUSINESS CENTRES OF THE WORLD, A DILIGENT AND CAPABLE WORKFORCE AND AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THINGS - LIKE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SYSTEMS, TELEPHONES AND OTHER SERVICES WORK.
+THE GOVERNMENT'S +HANDS-OFF+ POLICY HAS ALSO ATTRACTED OVER 500 OVERSEAS FIRMS WHO HAVE INVESTED US$1 500 MILLION IN MANUFACTURING IN HONG KONG, HE NOTED.
MR EASON ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT OVER HONG KONG'S FUTURE MEANS A CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND KEY INSTITUTIONS.
COMMENTING ON THE FUTURE, HE SAID MANUFACTURING IS CLEARLY GOING TO REMAIN ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTORS TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PROSPERITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
+ IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSURES OF INCREASING COMPETITION FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES AND PROTECTIONISM IN OVERSEAS MARKETS, OUR MANUFACTURERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE UPMARKET AND INTO MORE SOPHISTICATED AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED OPERATIONS.
HE CONCLUDED BY URGING HIGH QUALITY SWISS FIRMS IN ENGINEERING, IN ELECTRONICS, IN PRECISION METALS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO EXPAND TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL
IN SWITZERLAND, TO CONSIDER EXPANDING INTO HONG KONG, WHERE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THEIR COMPETITIVENESS,
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