21
WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1993
AND AND TO SERVICE OF SUCH
THE EXISTENCE OF THE COALITION CERTAINLY HELPS TO EXPAND STRENGTHEN OUR RANGE OF CONTACTS WITH THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES ENSURE CLOSER CO-OPERATION ON THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SECTOR. THERE MAY WELL BE SCOPE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BROAD-BASED ADVISORY MECHANISMS IN FUTURE.
ONE OTHER RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BODY, ALBEIT WITH A WIDER ECONOMIC PURVIEW THAN JUST SERVICES, DESERVES A MENTION IN THE CONTEXT OF REFLECTING THE VIEWS OF INDUSTRY AND ENSURING THAT HONG KONG RETAINS ITS PRE-EMINENCE AS A COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE. THIS IS THE GOVERNOR'S BUSINESS COUNCIL WHICH HAS AN ALL-EMBRACING REMIT, COVERING THE FULL SPECTRUM OF THE ECONOMY. IT ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, :
HOW TO KEEP HONG KONG THE MOST BUSINESS-FRIENDLY LOCATION IN ASIA:
THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON BUSINESS, MODIFY OR ABOLISH THOSE THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF AND
SO AS TO
PROGRESS;
HOW TO MAXIMISE THE POTENTIAL OF ALL OUR RESOURCES OUR POSITION AT THE HEART OF THE ASIAN ECONOMY.
AND OF
IS
INEVITABLY, WITH SUCH A REMIT, THE GOVERNOR'S BUSINESS COUNCIL BOUND TO COVER SUBJECTS RELEVANT TO THE INTERESTS AND CONCERNS OF SERVICE INDUSTRIES SUCH FOR INSTANCE AS THE SUPPLY OF LABOUR.
AND
ARE
NOT
BEFORE CONCLUDING, I SHOULD MENTION ONE PARTICULAR ASPECT WHICH HAS BEEN PICKED UP IN THIS DEBATE AND WHICH WARRANTS MORE FOCUSED ATTENTION AND THE DEVOTION OF MORE RESOURCES, NOT ONLY BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP, THAT IS SERVICE SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY. WHILE THE SERVICE SECTORS THE FASTEST DEVELOPING IN RECENT YEARS THERE IS EVIDENCE, THOUGH CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE, SUGGESTING THAT THESE SECTORS ARE THE ONES HAVING SLOWER INCREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY, AT LEAST SLOWER THAN IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, PERHAPS THE TASKS IN SERVICES ARE MORE VARIED AND INVOLVE MORE HUMAN INPUT HENCE RENDERING THEM LESS AMENABLE ΤΟ MECHANISTIC PROCESSING. PERHAPS AN OFFICE OFFERS FAR LESS SCOPE FOR AUTOMATION THAN A FACTORY. BUT IT WILL BE USEFUL FOR US ΤΟ ENSURE THAT WHATEVER SCOPE THERE IS FOR PRODUCTIVITY TO BE FURTHER IMPROVED, WHETHER BY UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF THE STAFF CONCERNED OR BY COMPLEMENTING THEM WITH EQUIPMENT SUPPORT, WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND UTILISED. I AM SURE THAT MEMBERS WILL SHARE MY INTEREST IN THIS AREA. INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL EQUIPMENT WHERE IT WILL PAY OFF NEEDS NO URGE BY THE GOVERNMENT. AS TO THE PLANNING OF MANPOWER SUPPLY AND UPGRADING ITS QUALITY, MY CLOSE COLLEAGUE THE SECRETARY
EDUCATION AND MANPOWER IS PLAYING HIS ROLE FULLY.
FOR
/MR PRESIDENT,