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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1987
+ IT IS HOPED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE ONCE DEDICATED THEIR YOUTH AND ENERGY TO SOCIETY IS ONLY AN ACT OF NEGLIGENCE RATHER THAN DISCRIMINATION, HE SAID.
MR PANG SAID HE WHOLLY DISAGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S CONCEPTION IN CASTING THE NET OF INDIRECT TAXES WIDER.
HE SAID OTHER THAN LUXURY ITEMS WHICH COULD BE TAXED HEAVILY WITHOUT AFFECTING THE GENERAL PUBLIC MUCH, DUTY RATES SHOULD NOT BE LEVIED ON NON-ALCOHOLIC AND THIRST-QUENCHING DRINKS, WHICH WERE MOSTLY CONSUMED BY STUDENTS AND CHILDREN.
HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ABOLISH THE DUTY RATES ON SOFT
DRINKS.
WAYS TO IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED
*****
PROFESSOR THE HON POON CHUNG-KWONG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT ONE OF THE WAYS TO IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG WAS TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE MECHANISM FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER,
SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE, PROF POON SAID HONG KONG HAD LONG BEEN PLAYING THE PASSIVE ROLE OF +MATCHMAKER+ - KEEN MATCHING OF IMPORTED TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES WITH LOCAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION NEEDS.
IF HONG KONG SHOULD MOVE INTO HIGH VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION, IT MUST STRENGTHEN LOCAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOP LOCAL EXPERTISE WHO COULD MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE IMPORTED TECHNOLOGY, HE SAID.
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, HE ADDED, THERE SHOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE MECHANISM IN HONG KONG TO CO-ORDINATE VARIOUS ASPECTS ASSOCIATED WITH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, SUCH AS THE PROMOTION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN PRODUCT INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, THE PROVISION OF A SATISFACTORY ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES FOR PRODUCT RESEARCH AND PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE DISSEMINATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW TO LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS.
PROF POON ALSO COMMENTED ON SEVERAL OTHER AREAS RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG AND REQUESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THEM SERIOUSLY.
'THE GOVERNMENT