XN000022-1976-06-28 — Page 4

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MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1976

RATE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY ASTONISHING, SAYS AKERS-JONES

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THE RATE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN HONG KONG HAS ASTONISHED MANY PEOPLE HERE AND ABROAD, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TONIGHT (MONDAY).

ADDRESSING THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AT ITS ANNUAL DINNER, HE SAID: +LAST YEAR, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT. ́ ́THIS YEAR, NOT ONLY HAS UNEMPLOYMENT DROPPED, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORTAGE OF LABOUR IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES AND PARTICULARLY THE WORK OF OUR SKILFUL YOUNG WOMEN IS VERY MUCH IN DEMAND IN THE TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY.+

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAD ALSO RESPONDED WELL TO THE INCREASING DEMANDS BEING MADE UPON IT AND HONG KONG WAS FORTUNATE THAT BUILDING PRICES HAD SO FAR NOT INCREASED VERY GREATLY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION HAD INCREASED CONSIDERABLY SINCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND THE INCREASING VOLUME OF PUBLIC HOUSING BEING BUILT HAD ADDED ITS LOAD ON THE INDUSTRY.

REFERRING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN HAD BECOME MUCH MORE OF A REALITY.

+PARTS OF THE NEW ROAD TO TUEN MUN ARE ALREADY OPEN AND THE VERY FACE OF TUEN MUN HAS CHANGED. GONE ARE THE SQUATTER SHACKS AT SAM SHING HUI. THE RECLAMATION OF THE BAY AT TUEN MUN HAS STARTED AND WITH IT WILL DISAPPEAR THAT LOVELY SCENE OF JUNKS CLUSTERING ALONG THE HORIZON THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR CENTURIES,+ MR. AKERS- JONES SAID. +WE MUST SOMETIMES FEEL SAD AT THE LOSS OF THESE OLD FAMILIAR PLACES.+

SOMETIMES, HE ADDED, THEIR PASSING TOO HAD CAUSED DISTRESS AND DISTURBANCE TO MANY PEOPLE. THEY HAD BORNE THESE UPHEAVALS WITH GREAT FORBEARANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL WHO LIVE IN HONG KONG, SO THAT WORK AND HOMES, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS COULD BE PROVIDED, AND TO MAKE GOOD THE DEFICIENCIES IN HOUSING WHICH HONG KONG HAD HAD TO FACE FOR TOO LONG, AND TO MEET THE NEEDS AND ASPIRA- TIONS OF THE EXPANDING POPULATION.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT DURING THE YEAR THE DISTRICT FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTEES HAD BEEN REVIVED.

+WITH THEIR HELP AND THE INCREASING STRENGTH AND VIGILANCE OF THE POLICE FORCE AND THE EFFORTS OF ALL THE COMMUNITY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,+ HE ADDED, THE RISE IN SERIOUS CRIME HAS BEEN CHECKED. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF WE GO ON ORGANISING AND THINKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR BUILDINGS AND THEIR ENVIRONS, WE WILL PLUG THE LOOPHOLES IN WHICH THE CRIMINAL CAN OPERATE.+

WITH REGARD TO HEUNG YEE KUK, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE CHAIRMAN HAD INFORMED HIM THAT HE PROPOSED TO OVERHAUL ITS COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND ADMINSTRATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A FURTHER PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTIVE CO-OPERATION AND ADVICE DURING THE CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE OF THE KUK.+

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