P
Reply:
(b)
(c)
Mr President,
which sectors of the business representatives whose views have been sought by the Task Force; and which of those views have been accepted: and
whether consideration will be given to disclosing the issues discussed and the conclusions reached by the Task Force after each meeting, so as to enhance its transparency?
The Task Force on Services Promotion has met five times since its establishment in August 1995. Details of the preliminary results of the Task Force's work are set out in a public document.
The Government is fully aware of the need to have the benefit of the views of the business community in the formulation of the Task Force's recommendations. For this reason, the Financial Secretary has set up an Ad Hoc Consultative Group with prominent business leaders, professionals and academics. In addition, a symposium co-organised by the Government and the business community will be held on 12 March to enable further exchange of ideas relating to the development of the services sector and the facilitating role of the Government.
The public document which I referred to earlier serves to keep the community informed of the work of the Task Force. It also provides a basis for extensive public discussion on this important sector of the economy. Views from the public and the services sector are pivotal to the deliberations of the Task Force which, on completion of its work, will publish a final report for public information.
End