XN000022-1981-02-02 — Page 3

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1981

MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY NEEDED

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THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, MR LAWRENCE MILLS, TODAY (MONDAY) EMPHASISED THE CONTINUOUS NEED TO INTRODUCE NEW SKILLS, MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, AND EQUIPMENT INTO HONG KONG TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL INDUSTRY RESPONDS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO THE CHANGING DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE.

MR MILLS WAS ADDRESSING THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF HONG KONG OXYGEN'S NEW AIR SEPARATION PLANT AT JUNK BAY, WHICH IS THE MOST MODERN OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

CONGRATULATING THE COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT, THE ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS FOR BRINGING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS FIELD TO HONG KONG, MR MILLS SAID ALL THIS HAS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME AS THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY. BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES NOT ONLY THE GROWING SOPHISTICATION OF LOCAL INDUSTRY AND THE FORWARD THINKING ATTITUDE OF OUR ENTREPRENEURS BUT ALSO THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW PLANT IS SEPARATING AND PURIFYING ARGON (ONE OF THE RARE GASES THAT EXISTS IN AIR) FOR THE FIRST TIME ADDING TO THE COMPANY'S RANGE SERVING HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY. UP TO NOW, ARGON HAS HAD TO BE IMPORTED.

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UNDERLINING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TOWARDS INDUSTRY, HE SAID: THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO A NEW INVOLVEMENT IN ASSISTING INDUSTRY'S EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY AND MOVE UP-MARKET, BUT IT REMAINS A POLICY OF INVOLVEMENT, NOT INTERFERENCE, THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS AND THE IN-PUT HAVE TO COME FROM INDUSTRY ITSELF.+

'PAI LAU' OPENED TO MARK VILLAGE RESITING

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THE FORBEARANCE OF RESIDENTS OF A NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGE, WHO CO-OPERATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT WHEN THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY WAS BEING BUILT NEARBY, WAS PRAISED TODAY (MONDAY).

THE VILLAGERS LIVE IN SHAM TSENG, WHERE A MASSIVE VIADUCT

WAS CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE HIGHWAY PROJECT.

THEY CONTINUED TO LIVE IN THEIR HOUSES WHILE THE WORK WENT ON, BUT WERE EVENTUALLY RESITED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S VILLAGE REMOVAL SCHEME.

TO MARK THE IR CO-OPERATION, AND COMPLETION OF THE RESITING OF SHAM TSENG VILLAGE, A 'PAI LAU' (DECORATIVE ARCHWAY) WAS TODAY OPENED IN THE VILLAGE BY TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES.

THE 'PAI LAU' IS EIGHT METRES HIGH AND NINE METRES WIDE. IT IS SITUATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE VILLAGE.

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