XN000022-1982-10-28 — Page 19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982

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INFORMATION ON OVERSEAS MARKET TRENDS OF ANY NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE WHICH WOULD BE WITHIN OUR RESOURCES TO FOLLOW: AND

INFORMATION AND LIAISON SERVICES FOR HONG KONG INVESTORS IN THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE.

MISS TAM STRESSED THAT IT WOULD BE A DEPLORABLE WASTE OF RESOURCES IF INVESTMENTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD FAIL FOR WANT OF PROPER MARKET AND TRADE INFORMATION WHICH IS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT'S MEANS TO GIVE OR RESOURCES TO OBTAIN,

+ALSO IT IS FAR MORE CONSTRUCTIVE TO STRENGTHEN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND PRODUCE MORE JOBS THAN TO GIVE WELFARE BENEFITS TO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS.

+AND THEREFORE DIVERSIFICATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPARATIVELY LABOUR-INTENSIVE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY MUST GO HAND-IN-HAND, SHE SAID.

PLEA FOR MORE FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN

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A CALL TO GET ON AND IMPROVE FACILITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN WAS MADE BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP TODAY.

IN HER MAIDEN SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH CENTRED MOSTLY ON CHILDREN WHOM SHE CALLED THE ADORABLE SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY+ - DR IP SAID WE MUST NOT TREAT THEM LIKE MINIATURE ADULTS LEST THEY GROW UP TO BE OVERSIZED CHILDREN.

+ IF WE SEE, AND WE SHOULD, THE IMPORTANCE OF NURTURING OUR YOUNG WITH CARE AND COMPASSION AND PROTECTING THEM FROM THE STRESS OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE UNTIL THEY CAN FEND FOR THEMSELVES, WE MUST NOT ACCEPT FURTHER DELAYS OR EXCUSES FOR INACTION, SHE WARNED.

+IN PLANNING FOR HONG KONG, CHILDREN MUST BE OUR PRIORITY, AFTER ALL, HONG KONG IS A CITY OF A MILLION CHILDREN.+

DR IP RAISED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.

THESE INCLUDED: LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CHILDREN AS FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS IN MOTOR VEHICLES, ACTION TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS TO CHILDREN INVOLVING CONCUSSION AND LACERATION OF THE HEAD, ADEQUACY OF STAFFING AND MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTIAL CENTRES, FOR SEVERE GRADE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, PLACEMENTS FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED SCHOOL LEAVERS, THE NATURE OF THE EDUCATION AND THE STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO IN SCHOOLS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED, IMPROVEMENT TO OBSTETRICAL NEONATAL SERVICES, AND CHILD ABUSE AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS.

/DR IP