XN000022-1980-03-27 — Page 18

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980

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WHILE AGREEING THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE FAMILY PLANNING, HE MAINTAINED THAT THIS SHOULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION RATHER THAN BY +DIS INCENTIVE+ OR OTHER RESTRICTIVE MEASURES.

+ALL MARRIED COUPLES SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND DECIDE ON THEIR OWN FAMILY PLANNING WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR ANYBODY, HE SAID.

LAND POLICY MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION

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THERE IS A PRESSING NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS INDUSTRIAL LAND POLICY AND TO MAKE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE BASIC CONCEPT OF INDUSTRIAL LAND ALLOCATION.

THIS WAS ADVOCATED BY THE HON WONG PO-YAN AT TODAY'S RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

AS HONG KONG'S ECONOMY IS EXPORT-ORIENTED, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO DIVERSIFY BOTH ITS PRODUCTS AND MARKETS. +THE GOVERNMENT MUST THEREFORE BE VERY CAREFUL WITH ITS INDUSTRIAL LAND POLICY TO ENSURE THAT IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION,* HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM, THE MAJORITY OF NEW INDUSTRIAL LOTS ARE ALLOCATED TO USERS THROUGH PUBLIC AUCTION.

+ INDUSTRIALISTS - THE GENUINE USERS OF INDUSTRIAL LAND AND THE DIRECT CONTRIBUTORS TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - CONSTANTLY FALL PREY TO LAND SPECULATORS AND THOSE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE MOTIVATED ONLY BY PROFIT.

+THIS APPLIES PARTICULARLY TO SMALL MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT DRIVEN OUT OF THE MARKET BY THE UNREALISTICALLY HIGH PRICES QUOTED AT PUBLIC LAND AUCTIONS, HE SAID.

HE REITERATED HIS EARLIER PLEA FOR THE SETTING UP OF A +FACTORY OWNERSHIP SCHEME+ WHEREBY SMALL MANUFACTURERS CAN FORM COOPERATIVES TO BID INDUSTRIAL LAND AT FAIR MARKET VALUE DIRECT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

HE ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE ITS PRESENT THINKING ON THIS SUBJECT.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR THAT CAUSED +GRAVE CONCERN+ TO MR WONG WAS THE DRASTIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

/HE SAID