MONDAY, JULY 8, 1931
18
MORE SUPPORT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT NEEDED: STUDY FINDS
**
* * *
SHOULD
THE GOVERNMENT
EXPAND SUPPORT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, BUILDING ON THE EXISTING FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CAPABILITY IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR.
THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BASED ON A CONSULTANCY STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE COMMITTEE AND ADVICE FROM THE TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, THE INSTITUTES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY COMMITTER OF THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MONDAY) ΤΟ ANNOUNCE THE COMMITTER'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTER, PROFESSOR C.K. POON, SAID THE COMMITTEE ALSO FELT THAT POLICY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF POLICY FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE.
"THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CO-ORDINATION OF EFFORTS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BUT NOT IMPOSED," HE SAID.
PROF POON SAID BIOTECHNOLOGY WAS PARTICULARLY SUITED TO HONG KONG BECAUSE IT DID NOT REQUIRED EXTENSIVE LAND USE OR LARGE CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
ΤΟ
HE SAID FOOD, CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES, WASTE TREATMENT AND BIOLOGICAL INSTRUMENTATION WERE IDENTIFIED AS MARKET NICHES SUITED HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, PROF POON SAID ONE MAJOR HURDLE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CURRENTLY WAS THE LIMITED DEGREE OF ACTIVITY OR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL SECTORS OF HONG KONG.
HE SAID SEVERAL INITIATIVES WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE PROMOTE BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY.
ΤΟ
ELABORATING ON THIS PROPOSAL, PROF POON SAID: "THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD ADVISE THE ADMINISTRATION ON A REGULAR BASIS AND OFFER ADVICE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY-RELATED ISSUES TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS ON REQUEST.
PART OF
"
A "THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHOULD FORM MACHINERY FOR ADVISING GOVERNMENT ON TECHNOLOGY MATTERS,
THE OVERALL HE SAID.
RECOMMENDED THAT THE INSTITUTES SHOULD BE OF A BIOTECHNOLOGY
PROF POON SAID THE COMMITTEE ALSO TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND THE BIOTECHNOLOGY ASKED то CONSIDER ENCOURAGING THE FORMATION SOCIETY.
PROF POON SAID THE SOCIETY WOULD HELP то AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN SCIENTISTS ENGAGED IN BIOTECHNOLOGY.
POSTER
AND
CO-OPERATION INDUSTRIALISTS
/IN ADDITION,