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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1987
NEED TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE WITH INDUSTRIALISTS: JACOBS
THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS, SAID (MONDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE ITS DIALOGUE INDUSTRIALISTS ON WAYS TO SOLVE THE LABOUR SHORTAGE PROBLEM.
TODAY WITH
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES, MR JACOBS SAID HE DID NOT REACH ANY AGREEMENT ON THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE FEDERATION, SUCH AS IMPORTATION OF LABOUR AND THE SETTING UP OF AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE AT THE BORDER.
"FOR THE REASONS I STATED BEFORE, WE DON'T THINK THE PROPOSALS ARE REALLY FEASIBLE. NEVERTHELESS, IN THE COURSE OF OUR DISCUSSION, WE EXPLORED POSSIBILITIES OF TAPPING OUR LOCAL LABOUR FORCE A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVELY, HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS NOTED THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE
WHO LEFT THE LABOUR FORCE COULD BE DRAWN BACK, AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXPLORING WAYS то ACHIEVE THIS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS REACHING OUT TO MEDIUM-SIZED FACTORIES TO SEE WHETHER THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
"SO, SOME STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN, NOT THE STEPS THE FEDERATION ACTUALLY WANTED, BUT NEVERTHELESS THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE," HE SAID.
ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SET UP A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE PROBLE'), MR JACOBS SAID: "I'M NOT SURE 1F THAT'S THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WAY FORWARD. THERE ARE QUITE A LOT OF THIS, AND I WOULD PREFER TO ORGANISE IT, IF YOU INFORMALLY AT THIS STAGE.'
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MR JACOBS SAID THAT FURTHER TALKS WOULD BE
NECESSARY.
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN LIKE, RATHER MORE
HELD AS AND WHEN
"WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW IS WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE CERTAIN IDEAS. THE FEDERATION ON ITS PART IS GOING TO PURSUE CERTAIN IDEAS. WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT TELEPHONE SERVICES. I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER," HE SAID.
CONSIDER PROPOSALS
SAID THE FEDERATION MIGHT
ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FURTHER RAISED BY THE FEDERATION, MR JACOBS CONTINUE TO TRY TO PERSUADE THEM.
"THE FEDERATION OBVIOUSLY DID NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING WE SAID THIS AFTERNOON. SO THEY MAY WANT TO COME BACK WITH FURTHER ARGUMENTS. THAT'S WHAT A DIALOGUE IS ALL ABOUT.'
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