XN000022-1978-11-02 — Page 16

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978

GOVERNMENT URGED TO PROMOTE SELF-HELP CO-OPERATIVES ******

WELL-DIRECTED AND WELL-PLANNED SELF-HELP PROJECTS SHOULD BE PROMOTED TO AVOID THE TENDENCY OF PEOPLE DEPENDING TOO MUCH ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DO EVERYTHING FOR THEM.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE HON. ANDREW SO KWOK-WING SAID THE GOVERNMENT COULD DIRECT ITS EFFORTS TOWARDS EDUCATING PEOPLE, GIVING THEM A VOICE IN FORMULATING THOSE POLICIES CONCERNING THEM AND INITIATING THEM INTO PROGRAMMES WHICH WOULD LIFT THEM TO A BETTER LEVEL OF LIVING THROUGH THE IR OWN EFFORTS.

MR. SO POINTED OUT THAT AS MATERIAL NEEDS ARE INCREASINGLY SATISFIED, PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL WANT A NEW SENSE OF PURPOSE AND MEANING IN THE IR LIFE. SOME WILL PURSUE SELF-FULFILMENT AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT, OTHERS WILL SATISFY PERSONAL INTERESTS IN OTHER FIELDS, SUCH AS BECOMING VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITY, SELF-HELP AND CO-OPERATIVE PROJECTS.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN PROMOTING THESE PROJECTS, BY DIRECT PARTICIPATION, MORAL SUASION, LEGISLATION, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BY PROVIDING SPACE, TAX CONCESSION, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, THE GOVERNMENT CAN ASSIST VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO SET UP CO-OPERATIVE CHILD CARE CENTRES, HOMES FOR THE AGED AND CO-OPERATIVE OWNERSHIP OF INDUSTRIAL SHARES.

SELF-HELP CO-OPERATIVES NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION, MR. SO EXPLAINED, +EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE ROLE THEY CAN PLAY ́ IN EVOLVING A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE THE ATTITUDES AND OUTLOOK FAVOURABLE TO DEVELOPMENT.+

WITH THEIR CHARACTERISTIC MEMBER OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL, SELF-HELP CO-OPERATIVES CAN ALSO DEAL RAPIDLY WITH EMERGING CHANGES IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES, SUCH AS INCREASING DEMAND BY THE LABOUR FORCE FOR MORE INVOLVEMENT IN DECISIONS RELATING TO THEIR WORK. THIS IS WHERE THE CO-OPERATIVES, THE EXISTENCE OF WHICH HINGES ON A NEGOTIATED APPROACH, HAVE THEIR ADVANTAGE. FURTHERMORE, BY NATURE, THEY ARE IDEALLY SUITED TO EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATION FLOWS AND WOULD HELP IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL ISOLATED.

MR. SO ALSO SUGGESTED A SCHEME OF EMPLOYMENT ADJUSTMENT' BY WHICH SURPLUS LABOUR CAN BE DEPLOYED IN TIMES OF STRUCTURAL RECESSION, SUCH AS WOULD PROBABLY OCCUR WITH THE IMPOSITION OF QUOTA RESTRICTIONS ON OUR TEXTILE PRODUCTS, AND INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF COTTON.

UNDER THIS SCHEME, AN ENTERPRISE WITH SURPLUS LABOUR WOULD LOAN SOME OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO ANOTHER ENTERPRISE WHICH HAS A LABOUR SHORTAGE. THIS WILL BENEFIT BOTH OF THEM AS WELL AS THE WORKERS WHO WILL ALSO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL SKILLS, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL BE INCONVENIENCED BY THE CHANGE OF JOB AND PLACE OF WORK.

AR. SC