XN000022-1977-10-26 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1977

WAYS TO PROMOTE OUR TRADE AND CULTURE

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HONG KONG MUST BE ESTABLISHED AS AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION CENTRE TO FILL THE GAP IN OUR TRADE PROMOTION STRATEGY AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE A MORE PLANNED AND ACTIVE ROLE IN PROMOTING THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG.

THESE TWO POINTS WERE RAISED BY THE HON. ALEX WU AT THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+ IF EVER THERE WAS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR A MAJOR TRADE FAIR FACILITY IN THIS REGION, IT IS HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

+WE HAVE THE TRADE VOLUME AND A FREE IMPORT-EXPORT SYSTEM WHICH MAKES THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS IN AND OUT FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES BOTH EASY AND UNCOMPLICATED.+

+THIS WOULD PROVIDE MANY LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR US AND IF PROPERLY DEVELOPED AND PROMOTED COULD BE A MOST VIABLE PROJECT FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, HE SAID.

THE GREAT EUROPEAN CITIES COULD NOT BE IMAGINED WITHOUT THE IR TRADE FAIR FACILITIES, AND IT IS NOT ONLY THE BENEFITS FROM DIRECT TRADING THAT ACCRUE TO THESE COUNTRIES, IT IS THE ANCILLARY BUSINESS THAT TRADE FAIRS BRING TO HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND RETAILERS WHICH GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THESE EVENTS, HE ADDED.

MR. WU GAVE AS EXAMPLE A TRADE MART IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS, BUILT UP OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH HAD AN ESTIMATED BUSINESS TURNOVER OF HK$22 BILLION THIS YEAR AND EXPECTED SOME 400,000 VISITORS.

AS TO HONG KONG, MR. WU POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSAL FOR A TRADE FAIR CENTRE WAS NOT NEW. A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE WAS SET UP IN NOVEMBER 1964 WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF DELIBERATION IT RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE SOME 130,000 SQ. FT. OF FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED NET SPACE FOR TRADE EXHIBITIONS, AND TO INCLUDE FURTHER FACILITIES FOR DISPLAYING MACHINERY AND OTHER HEAVY EXHIBITS.

THE SPACE COULD BE COUPLED WITH AN INDOOR STADIUM TO SEAT 7,500 AND CONVENTION FACILITIES, SO THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE VIABLE AND THE FACILITIES INTERCHANGEABLE.

/THE SUB-COMMITTEE