XN000022-1980-03-21 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1980

HK'S LABOUR FORCE IS FLEXIBLE AND HARD-WORKING SAYS CS

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ORGANISATIONS WHICH LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF OUR WORKFORCE AND WHICH STRIVE TO IMPROVE LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS SHOULD FLOURISH AND TAKE THEIR PART IN THE COMMUNITY'S TOTAL EFFORT.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER SAID THIS WHEN ADDRESSING THE 5TH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING,

+HONG KONG IS FORTUNATE INDEED TO HAVE A QUITE REMARKABLE LABOUR FORCE FLEXIBLE AND HARD-WORKING, HE SAID.

+THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SHARE FAIRLY IN OUR PROSPERITY

A PROSPERITY WHICH THEY HAVE LARGELY HELPED TO CREATE.

+YOU MUST KNOW OF THE POOR UNFORTUNATES AMONGST US WHO CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE PACE, WHO SLIP THROUGH THE SOMEWHAT MEAGRE SAFETY NETS GOVERNMENT HAS SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE TO CATCH AND HELP THEM.+

+YOU ARE AWARE THAT WE NEED NOT ONLY THE EXPERTISE, THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE IDEAS, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO CARRY OUT THOSE IDEAS WHO ACTUALLY MAKE, BUILD, DIG, AND SOMETIMES SADLY DIE IN THE ENDEAVOUR.+

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR JACK CATER'S SPEECH #

+IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE FOR ME TONIGHT TO BE INVITED TO ADDRESS THE MEMBERS OF THE FLOURISHING INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER PARTAKING OF SUCH AN ENJOYABLE MEAL AND THANK YOU TOO, SIR, FOR THE KIND WORDS YOU HAVE SAID ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE OVER-KIND THINGS YOU HAVE SAID ABOUT ME.

+ USED THE WORD +FLOURISHING TO DESCRIBE YOUR INSTITUTION DELIBERATELY AND ADVISEDLY. FOR THERE CAN BE FEW PROFESSIONAL BODIES IN HONG KONG WITH A LARGER OR MORE ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBERSHIP. AND SO IT SHOULD BE. MEMBERS OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION, IN ALL ITS BRANCHES, HAVE BEEN CHANGING THE FACE OF HONG KONG AND OTHER VITAL, OFTEN UNSEEN, PARTS OF THE BODY CORPORATE, FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY AND, AFTER ALL THAT PRACTICE, YOU SEEM NOW TO HAVE WHIPPED YOURSELVES ́ ́ INTO WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A VERITABLE FRENZY OF ACTIVITY WITH NO SIGN OF A LET-UP, IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT NOWADAYS HONG KONG IS ONE VAST CONSTRUCTION SITE: BUT

I AM TOLD BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY THAT THAT IS A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION: ONLY ABOUT A HALF OF IT CAN BE SAID TO FIT THAT DESCRIPTION AT ANY ONE TIME! BE THAT AT IT MAY, HOWEVER, HONG KONG IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MECCAS -- OR SHOULD I SAY ONE OF THE CORNUCOPIAS - OF INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANCY FIRMS: THE HORN OF PLENTY, OVERFLOWING WITH CEMENT, SAND AND AGGREGATE AND, I IMAGINE, FAIRISH PROFITS.

/+ONLY A