XN000022-1979-01-24 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1979

+ IN THE MEANTIME, SQUATTER FACTORIES ELIGIBLE FOR

HEATERAKOA.............

RESETTLEMENT AND CLEARED FROM LAND REQUIRED FOR REDEVELOPMENT BUT WHICH CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED IMMEDIATELY WILL BE GIVEN TEMPORARY RESITE AREAS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE BUILDINGS ARE READY FOR THEM.

*

+FOR OTHERS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR, OR NOT INTERESTED IN, SUCH ACCOMMODATION EX-GRATIA CASH PAYMENTS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, HE SAID.

ON THE PROBLEM OF SMALL FACTORIES IN NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS TO PREVENT PROLIFERATION OF THESE FACTORIES IN THE NEW TOWNS AND IN NEW BUILDINGS WHERE INDUSTRIAL USE CONTRAVENED LEASE CONDITIONS.

+LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN EXISTING BUILDINGS IS PRESENTLY TAKEN ONLY IN RESPECT OF MORE OBJECTIONABLE FACTORIES, I.E. THOSE WHICH ARE POSITIVELY DANGEROUS OR OBNOXIOUS,

+ONLY WHEN THERE IS ADEQUATE AND SUITABLE INDUSTRIAL ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE WILL THIS ACTION BE EXTENDED TO COVER OTHER FACTORIES IN EXISTING NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, HE SAID.

MR. JORDAN ALSO REVEALED THAT CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO A POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME UNDER WHICH SALE OF THE LEASES OF SOME SITES IS SUBJECT TO A CONDITION THAT UNITS OF 100 SQ. METRES ARE CONSTRUCTED ON THEM.

+ BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT IN SO DOING, IT WOULD BE DENYING THE USE OF THE SITES IN QUESTION TO OTHER LARGER SCALE INDUSTRY. CLEARLY IT IS NECESSARY TO TRY TO BALANCE THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, HE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY IN THIS REGARD AND WAS ACTIVELY EXAMINING THE NEED TO CHANGE ITS LAYOUT PLANS AS A RESULT.

ON MR. CHEN'S SUGGESTION FOR A FACTORY OWNERSHIP SCHEME, MR. JORDAN SAID THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION.

MR. JORDAN ALSO ARGUED OVER THE TERM LOOSE TO DESCRIBE THE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, BY SAYING THAT THERE WERE ADVANTAGES IN THIS.

HE SAID THIS LOOSE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT AS DESCRIBED IN DR. SIT'S REPORT CREATED AN ACTIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WHICH OFFERED SMALL ENTERPRISES MORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER INDIRECT BENEFITS. BUT HERE AGAIN IS AN AREA WHICH IS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION.+

MR. JORDAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL ALREADY CONCENTRATED ON PROVIDING SERVICES SPECIFICALLY GEARED TO THE SMALLER AND MEDIUM SIZED FACTORIES AND HE BELIEVED THERE WAS A STRONG CASE FOR ENCOURAGING THE PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE ON SERVICES OFFERED TO HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AS A WHOLE.

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