XN000022-1977-02-02 — Page 4

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BUT HE QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF AN ABSOLUTE EXCLUSION OF INDUSTRIES WHICH CAN OR DO OPERATE IN MULTI-STOREY INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS,

+ THE FACT THE INGENUITY AND ENTERPRISE HAS ENABLED CERTAIN PROCESSES TO BE ADAPTED TO UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS OPERATE UNDER SUCK HANDICAPS,+MR. WU SAID.

+THERE ARE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES WHICH COULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY AS WELL AS THE EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION IF THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE UNDER CONDITIONS THAT PERMITTED A BETTER PLANT LAY-OUT.

+ IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE NET GAIN TO THE ECONOMY FROM SUCH AN UP-GRADING OF EXISTING LOCAL INDUSTRY WOULD IN MANY CASES BE AS GREAT AS THAT RESULTING FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF OVERSEAS INDUSTRIES WHICH HAVE NOT PROVED THEMSELVES AS ADAPTABLE.

+ IF A CASE CAN BE MADE FOR GREATLY IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY BY MOVING SUCH AN INDUSTRY INTO MORE SUITABLE PREMISES THAT CASE DESERVES CONSIDERATION AND APPLICATIONS SHOULD NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY REJECTED.

+A CLARIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW ON THIS ASPECT OF SELECTION OF INDUSTRIES FOR SITES IN THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES WOULD BE WELCOME AT THIS TIME.+

BEFORE TAKING HIS SEAT, MR. WU ASKED WHETHER THE PUBLIC COULD BE INFORMED HOW LAND INTENSIVE IS DEFINED.

SPEAKING ON THE SAME BILL DR. THE HON, S.Y. CHUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS A PRACTICAL WAY TO ACHIEVE A MORE BALANCED AND HEALTHIER STATE OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH.

HE RECALLED THAT EARLIER, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION BUT WERE INFORMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE MTR CORPORATION AND THEREFORE COULD NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTION RELATED TO THAT CORPORATION.

+THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS CONSIDER THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS VERY UNSATISFACTORY, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ORGANISATIONS WHICH WERE MOSTLY OR WHOLLY OWNED BY GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS THE MTR CORPORATION AND THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, MUST BE ANSWERABLE TO GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+THEY SHOULD THEREFORE BE SUBJECT TO OPEN QUESTIONS AND DEBATES IN THIS COUNCIL, HE STRESSED.

+THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS BELIEVE THAT, WITH SECTION 32 AND 33 OF THE BILL, THE GOVERNOR, THENCE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF ANSWERING ANY QUESTION AND REPLYING TO ANY DEBATE IN THIS COUNCIL CONCERNING THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION.

+MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES AND I WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF GOVERNMENT COULD CONFIRM THIS UNDERSTANDING. IF, HOWEVER, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS NOT CORRECT, WE WOULD RESERVE OUR POSITION WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING AMENDMENTS AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.+

/ THE HON. HILTON.....