XN000022-1975-03-20 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1975

HE SAID THAT MANY HONG KONG BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES, GARMENT MANUFACTURING FOR EXAMPLE, HAD HIGH TURN-OVER FIGURES BUT VERY LOW MARGIN PROFITS, AND SUCH A TAX WOULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES AND DESTROY ALL INCENTIVES TO INVESTMENT WITH LOSS OF JOBS TO FOLLOW.

IN A FULL EMPLOYMENT SITUATION AS IN THE EARLY 1970S, HE SAID. PEOPLE WOULD NOT REALLY MIND PAYING FOR SOME OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES.

+POLITICALLY, WHAT YOU HAVE NEVER PROVIDED FOR IS NO LOSS, BUT EMPLOYMENT LOST OR CANNOT BE OBTAINED IS NOT ONLY DISAPPOINT- MENT BUT HARSHIP.+

ON COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE, HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHANGE IN THIS DIRECTION, AND HE CONGRATULATED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND HIS OFFICERS FOR THEIR TACTICS IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET, NOT BY HIS USUALLY LENGTHY THOUGH BY NO MEANS MONOTONOUS SPEECH THE OTHER DAY IN THIS CHAMBER, BUT BY HIS EXCELLENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION, AND PARTICULARLY BY DESPATCHING HIS CHINESE SENIOR LIEUTENANTS TO APPEAR AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IN THE TELEVISION PROGRAMMES.→

THIS, HE ADDED, GREATLY SHORTENED THE COMMUNICATIONS GAP, AND PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAN IN THE STREET TO AIR HIS GRIEVANCE OR SIMPLY SATISFY HIS CURIOSITY, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TREMENDOUSLY IN MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND OFFICIALDOM.

HE WAS CONCERNED THAT PROPOSED CUTS IN THE RADIO HONG KONG APPROPRIATION, WOULD NOT AFFECT EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMES LIKE THESE.

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID THE TV PROGRAMME FURTHER ILLUSTRATED THAT WHERE A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WAS HEADED BY AN EXPATRIATE, IT WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO HAVE A CHINESE DEPUTY OR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WHO COULD PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING AND WHO COULD BE DEPENDED UPON TO SELL THAT DECISION.

HE ALSO CALLED FOR MORE CONTACTS AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CHINESE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND KAIFONG LEADERS.

REFERRING TO HOUSING FOR EXPATRIATE AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, MR. WU SAID GREAT SAVINGS COULD BE EFFECTED IF OFFICERS TOOK SMALLER FLATS WITH MODERN AMENITIES IN THE 1,000 TO 1,300 SQ. FT TYPE HIGH CLASS FLATS.

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