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Speaking on Hong Kong as an enterprise environment, she said the best industrial development policy for Hong Kong was one that reflected its basic economic philosophy, namely that the market was the best means of determining the most efficient allocation of the factors of production: land, labour and capital.
This policy was driven by three considerations, she said.
The first is Hong Kong's openness and the complete exposure of our industries to international competition.
Secondly, business decisions are best left to business people and thirdly government should confine its role to providing what the market is unable to or not good at providing.
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Application for leave by prisoner
In response to press enquiries on the case of a prisoner detained under Her Majesty's Pleasure regarding his application of leave of absence, the Correctional Services Department today (Thursday) issued the following statement:
"The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Raymond Lai Ming-kee, expressed his sympathy towards the prisoner detained under Her Majesty's Pleasure, whose parents were killed in a traffic accident in Yuen Long on March 6.
His case has attracted public interest and sympathy. In the past several days, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) has received appeals from different people including some LegCo members to allow him to attend the parents' funeral service.
In fact, the prisoner himself has already applied to the department for leave to attend his parents' funeral service and his application is being sympathetically considered.
The department is in touch with the family. However, according to the CSD spokesman details will not be publicised in order to respect the privacy of the prisoner and the family, as well as for consideration of security."
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