XN000022-1980-11-05 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1980

ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY DIVERSIFICATION COMMITTEE

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A NUMBER OF WIDE-RANGING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF DIVERSIFICATION WHICH WILL HAVE IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL IMPLICATIONS, AND WHICH WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONE OF THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STANDING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

THE BOARD, APPOINTED RECENTLY, WILL PLAN, MONITOR AND ADVISE ON VARIOUS PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

+THIS WILL BE PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE PROVISION OF INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT FACILITIES, TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICES AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH,+ EXPLAINED A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN.

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLISHED ITS REPORT IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AND MADE A TOTAL OF 47 RECOMMENDATIONS COVERING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, FINANCIAL AND RELATED FACILITIES, LAND, HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA AND THE CONDUCT OF THE TERRITORY'S EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.

THE REPORT WAS THE CULMINATION OF TWO YEARS' STUDY BY THE COMMITTEE WHICH WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN 1977. ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE WERE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON WHETHER THE PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, CAN BE FACILITATED BY THE MODIFICATION OF EXISTING POLICIES OR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW POLICIES.+

OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS THE GOVERNMENT HAS, IN CONSULTATION WITH INTERESTED OUTSIDE BODIES, BEEN CAREFULLY STUDYING THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE 336-PAGE REPORT, IF AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO.

IN ADDITION TO THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE SHOULD BE WOUND UP.

+THIS HAS NOW BEEN DONE, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SPLIT INTO TWO BODIES - THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD.+

IT HAS ALSO BEEN AGREED THAT A NEW STATUTORY INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AUTHORITY SHOULD BE CREATED TO ORGANISE INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF MANPOWER TRAINING.

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALSO SUGGESTELD TWO COURSE OF ACTION IN RELATION TO CIL EXPLORATION, BATH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.