XN000022-1974-11-27 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1974.

MARTIAL ARTS IMMENSELY POPULAR

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THERE ARE NO POWERS TO ENABLE ANYONE TO OBLIGE MARTIAL ARTS BODIES TO REGISTER WITH THE POLICE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. BRAY SAID HE BELIEVED SUCH POWERS SHOULD NOT BE SOUGHT +WİTHOUT VERY CAREFUL THOUGHT.+

HE NOTED THAT MARTIAL ARTS WERE IMMENSELY POPULAR AND THAT MOST OF THOSE PARTICIPATING REGARD MARTIAL ARTS AS A +VIGOROUS · AND EXCITING FORM OF RECREATION.+

+THEY SPEND THEIR OWN TIME AND MONEY AND ANYONE WHO WATCHES THE CONCENTRATION OF ENERGY AND SKILL INVOLVED MUST RECOGNISE HERE AN ACTIVITY OF GREAT POTENTIAL FOR YOUTH.

+ONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SUCH POPULAR ACTIVITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE ENCOURAGED, HE STRESSED.

HOWEVER, MR. BRAY POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A LESS DESIRABLE SIDE TO SOME ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SOME MARTIAL ARTS BODIES AND HE FELT THAT THIS SHOULD BE ELIMINATED.

+THE PROBLEM LIES IN HOW TO APPLY ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE HEALTHY AND IDEALISTIC ASPECTS OF MARTIAL ARTS WITHOUT LENDING ANY SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO USE THESE BODIES TO SUBVERT THE ENTHUSIASMS OF YOUTH FOR THEIR UNDESIRABLE ENDS,+ HE SAID.

NO GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN SUGAR MARKET

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF INTERVENING IN THE SUGAR MARKET, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN, SAID TODAY.

HE MADE THE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE STEPS TO STABILISE THE PRICE OF SUGAR BY ENTERING INTO LONG TERM CONTRACTS WITH SUGAR PRODUCING COUNTRIES AT PRODUCERS PRICES.

MR. JORDAN REPLIED THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD STABILISE THE DOMESTIC PRICE OF SUGAR, OR OF ANY OTHER COMMODITY, ONLY BY DIRECT INTERVENTION IN THE MARKET, SUBSIDISING SUPPLIES WHEN THE WORLD PRICE IS HIGH - AND OF COURSE TAXING THEM WHEN THE PRICE IS LOW - OR, AS SUGGESTED BY DR. CHUNG BY ENTERING INTO LONG TERM CONTRACTS AT FIXED PRICES.

+ANY SUCH INTERVENTION WOULD OF COURSE ALSO INVOLVE THE GOVERNMENT IN CONTROLLING IMPORT AND EXPORT AND THE SMUGGLING THAT WOULD FOLLOW THE IMPOSITION OF CONTROL.

+THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF SETTING FOOT ON THIS SLIPPERY PATH, WITH ALL ITS ATTENDANT RISKS,+ MR. JORDAN SAID.

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