XN000022-1982-02-10 — Page 8

6.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982

+1 URGE THAT MORE OF THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES AND INSTITUTES, WITH PARTICULAR CARE THAT EASY ACCESS IS PROVIDED FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.+

THE HON ALLEN LEE STRESSED THAT HONG KONG COULD NOT AFFORD TO DELAY INDUSTRY-WIDE TRAINING PROGRAMMES ANY LONGER.

HONG KONG MUST UPGRADE ITS PRODUCTS AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING TO ITS LABOUR FORCE IN ORDER TO COMPETE. +OUR COMPETITORS HAVE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IMPROVED THEIR QUALITY OF PRODUCTS AND THEIR INCREASE IN THE MARKET SHARE HAS SURPASSED OURS EVEN THOUGH WE STILL ENJOY A RESPECTABLE GROWTH RATE,+ HE SAID.

+IT IS INEVITABLE HONG KONG MUST STAY AHEAD IN OUR EXPORTS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.+

IN ADDITION TO COMPETITION, MR LEE ADDED, HONG KONG IS ALSO NOW AFFECTED BY CHINA'S MODERNIZATION PROGRAMMES.

+THERE ARE ALREADY MANY HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS ENTER ING VARIOUS MANUFACTURING PROGRAMMES ACROSS THE BORDER.

+ IT IS BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT THESE ACTIVITIES ARE GOOD FOR BOTH CHINA AND HONG KONG.

+HOWEVER, WE MUST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO MANUFACTURE. THE ANSWER LIES IN BETTER QUALITY, MORE ADVANCED PRODUCTS, HE SAID.

THE HON WONG PO-YAN FELT THAT ONE OF THE MAIN DUTIES OF THE NEW COUNCIL SHOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT A FINE BALANCE IS ACHIEVED AMONG THE SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM OBJECTIVES FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO PROVIDE INDUSTRIOUS, EDUCATED AND VERSATILE WORKERS WITH A SOUND AND SOLID BASE FOR SELF-ACTUATION.

MR WONG STRESSED THAT WHILE THE WHOLE WORLD AND OUR NEIGHBOURING COMPETITORS ARE MOVING AHEAD QUICKLY, HONG KONG SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO LAG BEHIND.

+NOW, IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE TO SURVIVE, AND TO MAKE OUR DIVERSIFICATION AND MOVE UP-MARKET VIABLE, OUR WORKERS MUST BE TRAINED TO ENHANCE THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITY AND BROADEN THE IR HORIZONS WITH THE ABILITY TO USE, AND USE WELL, NOT ONLY THEIR HANDS BUT ALSO THEIR BRAINS IN THEIR JOBS, TO IMPROVE THE DESIGNS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR MACHINES, HE SAID..

+ IN SHORT, WE MUST NOW AIM TO TRAIN OUR WORKERS TO BE HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE, INNOVATIVE AND ADAPTIVE, TO MEET THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS TODAY, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.+

THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN CONSIDERED THAT PARENTS IN HONG KONG ARE TOO OBSESSED WITH SECURING PROFESSIONAL OR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

IT MAY BE A NOBLE GOAL, HE SAID, BUT SOME CHILDREN MAY BE BETTER WITH THEIR HANDS WHILE OTHERS MAY HAVE ARTISTIC TALENTS OR A TECHNICAL BENT.

/+IF FOR