XN000022-1974-01-26 — Page 4

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Saturday, January 26, 1974

Wherever practical, he said, courses should be slanted so as to

contain what might be called a Hong Kong content. "For after all, most

graduates are going to live and work in Hong Kong after graduation."

He felt that there were plenty of examples in the field of economics

where Hong Kong problems could provide fruitful areas for study and research

and noted that the Commerce and Industry Department would only be too pleased

to collaborate with the universities in lecture areas to mutual advantage.

Mr. Haddon-Cave also exhorted university staff and students to take an

interest in the government's handling of community affairs by following what

was being done.

He pointed out that the Hong Kong government was well documentad

and drew attention to the many publications tabled on Budget Day and others.

Referring to the oft mentioned gap between the government and

the public, the Financial Secretary said that while this might be true in

a very general, sense, he doubted whether it was true in a practical sense

considering the system of government in Hong Kong.

Almost every important policy area, he said, involved either an

advisory board or ad hoc committee or a competent statutory authority in

which both officials and members of the public concerned hammered out solutions

for the common good. And when this had been done, he added, findings were

published for general public debate and comment.

Mr. Haddon-Cave also expressed doubt whether the gap really existed

considering the close contacts particular government departments have with

particular sections of the community notably the Housing Department with

their tents and the Commerce and Industry Department with the business

community, among otherE,

/Perhaps ............