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14.
I don't believe that criticisms of the Labour Department are fair. I think we have seen, not least in recent disputes, the Labour Department providing conciliation services in an exceptionally effective way and I would like to commend those who have done this difficult work for what they have achieved. I don't think one can entirely overlook, when one considers the work of the Labour Department, the astonishing record in the labour field of Hong Kong over recent years, the extraordinary low number of days lost through disputes, which is above all a tribute to the common-sense and decency of Hong Kong's work force but also a tribute as well to employee representatives and to employer representatives as well. I suppose one should also say that you are more likely to have decent labour relations when you are having the sort of economic growth that Hong Kong has enjoyed than if your economy is stagnating.
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The question of institutional arrangements should therefore, I think, be seen against that backdrop and I don't - though it is not a question for me of principle and it is not a question on which I have got an entirely closed mind but I don't see the advantage in separating education from manpower. Indeed, in some other countries. we've seen in recent years them moving in the direction of Hong Kong and previously separated Departments of Labour and Education have been brought together. That has happened recently in the United Kingdom but I think it has happened in a number of other OECD countries as well, Why? Well, one reason is because of the growing recognition that education and skill-training are the most important elements in any labour market policy. Another reason is because of the overlap between academic learning and vocational training.
I think it is deplorable that for many years developed countries - and I hope this won't ever happen in Hong Kong took the view that these different forms of education and training should be put into completely separate boxes, when in fact there are a number of overlaps between them. So I don't actually agree with the honourable gentleman on that institutional matter but as I say, it is not a matter on which I have got a closed mind and if he ever wants to talk to me further about it, my door is open.
Mr Lau Chin-shek (in Chinese) I was waiting for the interpretation. Mr President, with regard to my question, I have not criticised the Labour Department; the Labour Department is only an executive arm. With regard to its efforts I would like to express my commendation towards the Labour Department. Actually, a lot of their staff are worked to ill-health; they have devoted much of their effort to their job.