XN000022-1979-03-29 — Page 12

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1979

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CONSUMER COUNCIL NEEDS MORE SUPPORT

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THE CONSUMER COUNCIL NEEDS MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN THE COMING YEAR TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND TO SET UP A FOURTH ADVICE CENTRE, PREFERABLY IN THE DENSE AREA OF TSUEN WAN THE HON, ALLEN LEE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE RESUMPTION OF THE BUDGET DEBATE TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR. LEE, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, SAID ITS WORK HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN RECENT YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN CONSUMER EDUCATION AND PROTECTION, AND ITS MAGAZINE +CHO ICE+ — IS ONE OF THE 10 MOST POPULAR IN HONG KONG.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION IN 1979-80 WILL INCREASE BY 36 PER CENT TO $910,000, $770,000 WILL BE PAID FOR STAFF TERMINAL GRATUITIES. THE REMAINING AMOUNT WILL ONLY TAKE CARE OF INFLATION AND STAFF SALARY INCREASES.

THERE IS NEED FOR A FURTHER $500,000, HE SAID, WHICH IS A SMALL DROP IN THE BUCKET BUT WILL YIELD IMMEASURABLE RETURN IN TERMS OF DOLLARS.

COMMENTING ON THE DIFFICULTIES FACING OUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, MR. LEE THOUGHT WE CAN LEARN FROM SOME OF THE

INDUSTRIAL ISED COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY JAPAN WHICH, LIKE HONG KONG, IS ALSO DEVOID OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

HE SAID HE NOTICED DURING HIS MANY TRIPS THERE THAT THE IR GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, INDUSTRY AND LABOUR DO WORK TOGETHER VERY CLOSELY.

THERE IS A PRESSING NEED FOR US TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT AND WIDEN OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE, BUT WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CHANGE ITS POLICY AND ASSIST INDUSTRY IS SOMETHING FOR IT TO PONDER, HE SAID.

MR. LEE SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM OF LABOUR SHORTAGE, FOR WHICH HE SAID THERE IS NO SHORT TERM SOLUTION, SHOULD BE TACKLED BY INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY.

HE THEREFORE SUPPORTED THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN'S PROPOSAL EARLIER IN THE DEBATE FOR A GENERAL LEVY TO TRAIN WORKERS FOR ALL INDUSTRIES.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE ADVANTAGE OF A CENTRALISED TRAINING SCHEME IS MANYFOLD AND, ALTHOUGH TRAINING IS COSTLY, THE COST IS WELL JUSTIFIED IN OUR CASE BECAUSE WE DESPERATELY NEED IT, PARTICULARLY FOR SEMI-SKILLED AND SKILLED WORKERS.

HE SAID HE MISSED PREVIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMENT ON THE ISSUE OF WATER CHARGES AND IN REOPENING THE SUBJECT HE QUER IED THE LOGISTICS, IF NOT THE PRINCIPLE, BEHIND THE CONCESSION FOR LARGE INDUSTRIAL WATER USERS.