XN000022-1981-03-26 — Page 9

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1981

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CITING EXAMPLES, HE SAID THE 29 SITES WHICH HAD BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR WERE EARMARKED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE FIRST TWO STAGES OF 45 HECTARES OF LAND IN TAI PO.

A THIRD STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER 20 HECTARES OF LAND IS PROPOSED WHILE A SECOND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE PROVIDING 72 HECTARES OF LAND IS BEING FORMED IN YUEN LONG.

+JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT HAS NOT BEEN OVERWHELMING EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE THE QUALITY OF APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN IMPROVED.

+ IF THE SAME PACE IS TO BE MAINTAINED, IT WILL BE EIGHT MORE YEARS BEFORE THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE WILL BE FILLED WITH FACTORIES, PROVIDED WE DO NOT RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE LEASE CONDITION, HE SAID.

MR LEE CONSIDERED THE PROGRESS A BIT TOO SLOW, ADDING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NUMBER OF FACTORS INVOLVED WHICH ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE TO INVESTORS OR PROHIBITS POTENTIAL INVESTORS FROM INVESTING IN THE ESTATE.

HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-EXAMINE SUCH CRITICAL AREAS AS PROMOTION, CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS OF LEASE WITHOUT DELAY.

ANOTHER AREA THAT CAUSED MR LEE CONCERN RELATES TO THE INADEQUATE GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS TO THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND PACKAGING COUNCILS.

HE CITIED A LIST OF MAJOR PROJECTS OF BOTH COUNCILS IN 1981 TO SHOW THAT ALL REQUIRED PROPER FINANCE.

+AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL DESIGN COUNCIL,

I REJECTED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S PROPOSAL OF REDUCING THE ACTIVITIES DUE TO LACK OF SUBVENTIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT,+ SAID MR LEE.

+ I BELIEVE THESE ACTIVITIES MUST CONTINUE AND SHOULD BE STEPPED UP.

+THEREFORE, I URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER INCREASING SUBVENTIONS FROM THE CURRENT $120 000 PER ANNUM, WHICH IS THE EIGHTH YEAR OF THE SAME AMOUNT, TO $250 000 PER ANNUM AS REQUESTED. WITHOUT THIS INCREASE, THE COUNCIL WILL BE IN DANGER OF CEASING EFFECTIVE OPERATION AND ALL THE INVESTMENTS TODAY WILL BE WASTED.+

MR LEE ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE EMERGENCY STUDENT LOAN FUND AND THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE A POSSIBLE LONG-TERM SCHEME OF ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE HONG KONG STUDENTS TO STUDY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

+ IT IS IMPORTANT THAT A PROPORTION OF OUR STUDENTS SHOULD ATTEND UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM MUST BE AS CLOSE AS EVER.

+WHEN THESE STUDENTS RETURN TO HONG KONG, THEY WILL CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS, + HE SAID.

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