XN000022-1977-10-05 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977

COMMENTING ON THE EEC'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS 'PRINCIPAL SUPPLIERS' WHICH INCLUDE HONG KONG, SIR MURRAY SAID: THE LOSS OF TRADE BELOW THE 1976 LEVEL ENVISAGED BY THE COMMISSION WOULD BE ABOUT $480 MILLION, BUT THE LOSS IN TRADE POSSIBILITIES IN THE EEC COULD BE OVER $1,000 MILLION,+

ON SOCIAL WELFARE, SIR MURRAY ANNOUNCED THAT A WHITE PAPER ON THE HAND ICAPPED WOULD BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK FOLLOWED BY THREE GREEN PAPERS ON SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS AND SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AND YOUTH.

IF THE NEW COMPLETE PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE AND GREEN PAPERS WERE ACCEPTED, THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WOULD RISE TO $719 MILLION BY 1982/83 AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OVER THE SAME PER 10D AMOUNTING TO $178 MILLION. IN 1977-78 FUNDS PROVIDED FOR ALL THESE TYPES OF SERVICES COVERED BY THE PROPOSALS AMOUNTED TO $407 MILLION.

IN MANPOWER TERMS, AN ADDITIONAL 3,700 TRAINED PERSONNEL, THE MAIN INCREASE BEING IN TEACHERS, NURSES AND GRADUATE AND NON- GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS, AS WELL AS A MUCH SMALLER BUT VERY IMPORTANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS AND PARA-MEDICAL SPECIALISTS DEPLOYED IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION, WOULD BE REQUIRED.

ON EDUCATION, SIR MURRAY SAID: +THERE WILL BE NO MORE HEARTACHE FOR CHILDREN LOSING THEIR CHANCE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH FAILURE IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR ALL FROM SEPTEMBER 1978.+

JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION WOULD BE COMPULSORY IN TWO YEARS, UP TO A CHILD'S 15TH BIRTHDAY OR UNTIL THE FORM I COURSE HAD BEEN COMPLETED, IF THAT IS EARLIER. FEES FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE ALSO TO BE ABOLISHED IN THE 1978/79 SCHOOL YEAR.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE HOUSING PROGRAMME IS NOW IN TOP GEAR AND AT THE CURRENT RATE OF COMPLETION, THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO BREAK THE BACK OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROBLEM IN THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

FORTY-SEVEN SITE FORMATION PILING AND BUILDING CONTRACTS WILL BE LET THIS FINANCIAL YEAR -- THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF LAST YEAR. FROM 14,000 FLATS THIS YEAR COMPLETIONS WILL RISE TO 20,000 NEXT YEAR AND TO OVER 40,000 IN 1979/80 WITH CAPACITY FOR ABOUT 250,000.

ON LABOUR, SIR MURRAY SAID MORE LEGISLATION WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE CURRENT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. INTENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO MEET SUCH FEES AS ARE CHARGED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION TO PERSONS INJURED IN THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT REQUIRE THEM TO MEET THE COST OF REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF PROTHESIS AND SURGICAL APPLIANCES AND TO PLACE A SURCHARGE ON DELAYED PAYMENT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION AS WELL AS TO EXTEND THE TIME LIMIT FOR APPLICATION.

/+CONSULTATION IS