XN000022-1979-10-31 — Page 19

18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1979

+THIS IS AMAZING IN VIEW OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND THE NUMBER OF REDUNDANT TEACHERS, THOUGH PERHAPS IT IS AGAIN EXPLAINED BY THE DIFFICULTY OF TWO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WORKING TOGETHER, SHE SAID.

SHE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF MAKING THE PRINCIPALS OF AIDED SCHOOLS ALSO THE SUPERVISORS.

THE EXISTING SYSTEM WHEREBY THE PRINCIPAL TAKES THE SALARY BUT THE SUPERVISOR THE KNOCKS+ DISCOURAGES RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SHE SAID.

SHE ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP EDUCATION SPONSOR ING BODIES, WHICH ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT OF THEIR CAPABILITIES, TO PAY THE SALARY OF THEIR ADMINISTRATOR OF SCHOOLS.

INDUSTRIALISTS TOLD TO LOOK FOR CHEAPER SOURCES OF RAW MATERIALS

*****

THE HON, FRANCIS TIEN SUGGESTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT MANUFACTURERS IN HONG KONG COULD BUY THE IR RAW MATERIALS, SEMI-MANUFACTURES AND EQUIPMENT FROM MORE COMPETITIVELY PRICED SOURCES.

HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SHOULD DO WHAT THEY CAN TO ASSIST THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN IDENTIFYING THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE.

+1 DO BELIEVE THAT SUCH FACTORS AS CHANGES IN PARITIES AND COSTS OF RAW MATERIALS HAVE CAUSED RECENT CHANGES IN COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE. AS A RESULT, SOURCES THAT WERE ONCE PRICED OUT OF OUR MARKET NOW HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE.

+ I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD INCREASE OUR PURCHASES FROM SOME OF THESE SOURCES AND THEREBY HELP TO DULL THE EDGE OF PROTECTION IST PRESSURES+, HE SAID.

EARLIER, MR. TIEN HAD SAID HE WAS PROMPTED TO MAKE THE SUGGESTION BECAUSE OF THE +GROWING SHADOW OF PROTECTIONISM OVER OUR TRADE + AND BECAUSE OUR EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING ARE NOW RUNNING VERY CLOSE TO SOME OF THE LIMITS IMPOSED BY QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS, AS WAS MENTIONED BY THE GOVERNOR.

+WE ARE, OF COURSE, ALWAYS GOING TO BE DEPENDENT UPON IMPORTED RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES WITH WHICH TO PRODUCE THE FINISHED GOODS FOR EXPORT.

+PART OF HONG KONG'S STRENGTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT OUR INDUSTRY OPERATES IN A FREE PORT. THIS MEANS, ON THE ONE HAND, THAT IT HAS NO ARTIFICIAL PROTECTION AND MUST THEREFORE BE COMPETITIVE BY WORLD STANDARDS SIMPLY TO SURVIVE. IT ALSO MEANS THAT OUR MANUFACTURERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FREE TO BUY THEIR RAW MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT WHEREVER IT BEST SUITS THEM, HE SAID.

/ONE RESULT