XN000022-1974-10-22 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1974.

THERE WERE STILL, HOWEVER, MANY THOUSANDS OF SMALL FAMILY CONCERNS PRODUCING A NARROW RANGE OF PRODUCTS OR OFFERING BASIC INDUSTRIAL SERVICES. MANY OF THEM FILLED A REAL NEED, PROVIDING SUB-CONTRACTING FACILITIES FOR THE LARGER FACTORIES AND SUBSTANTIAL EMPLOYMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR HOUSEUIVES.

MR. PORTER SAID THAT WHILE MANY OF THEM WILL REMAIN IN BEING FOR SOME YEARS YET THEIR FUNCTIONS ARE GRADUALLY BEING TAKEN OVER BY LARGER INDUSTRIAL UNITS OR BY SIMILAR SMALL FACTORIES IN MORE NEWLY INDUSTRIALISING, LOVER LABOUR-COST COUNTRIES.

THE TERM +LAISSEZ FAIRE+ WAS FREQUENTLY USED TO DESCRIBE THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID. THIS STEMMED FROM A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES, WHICH DID NOT BY ANY MEANS ENTAIL LEAVING INDUSTRY TO STRUGGLE ALONG WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE.

+THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM, HE STRESSED, +IS TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE WITHOUT DICTATING THE PRECISE DIRECTIONS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT OR INFLUENCING CORPORATE DECISION MAKING.+

THIS WAS DONE BY PROVIDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THOSE FACILITIES WHICH INDUSTRY CANNOT PROVIDE FOR ITSELF.

OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE WERE THE GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL AND TAXATION POLICIES WHICH WERE DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS AND ITS POLICY OF MAKING ALL PROCEDURES AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE INDUSTRIALIST, IMPORTER AND EXPORTER, WHETHER LOCAL OR FOREIGN.

TWO WORKERS' REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED

TO LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

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MR. LEUNG TAT-SHING OF URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT KOWLOON WORKERS GENERAL UNION AND MR. LEE SHING-CHU OF HONG KONG STEVEDORES UNION CCHAP YIN) WERE TODAY ELECTED AS WORKERS' REPRESENTATIVES TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE YEAR 1975.

THE ELECTION HELD BY SECRET BALLOT AT THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY..

WAS SUPERVISED BY OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

THE BOARD IS A NON-STATUTORY BODY TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ON SUCH MATTERS AFFECTING LABOUR, INCLUDING LEGISLATION AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. IT IS COMPOSED OF FOUR EMPLOYERS REPRESENTATIVES AND FOUR WORKERS' REPRESENTATIVES, WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AS CHAIRMAN.

TWO OF THE WORKERS' REPRESENTATIVES ARE ELECTED BY REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS AND TWO ARE SELECTED FOR APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR.