XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 23

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

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FINANCIAL SECRETARY CALLS FOR IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY

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IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY MUST BECOME A MAJOR GOAL FOR PERSONNEL MANAGERS IF HONG KONG IS TO MAINTAIN ITS COMPETITIVENESS IN WORLD MARKETS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY.

OPENING THE THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AT THE SHERATON HOTEL THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING, MR BREMRIDGE SAID HONG KONG HAS THE HIGHEST LABOUR RATES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, EXCEPT FOR JAPAN, AND MUST CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

+WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT ENCOURAGE INFLATIONARY GROWTH BY INTERNAL COST PUSH INFLATION AS A RESULT OF INCREASED LABOUR COSTS,+ HE SAID.

MR BREMRIDGE SAID IT WAS THE TASK OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT TO GUIDE BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE RECONCILIATION OF THESE PRESSURES.

+TO DO THIS, THEY MUST ENSURE THAT MONEY SPENT ON SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS IS SO APPORTIONED THAT EQUITY IS SEEN TO PREVAIL IN COMPANY POLICIES, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THAT THE REWARD SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO IMPROVE BOTH THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PRODUCED.

NOTING THAT IN THE CONVENTION'S PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES, GREAT EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE HANDLING OF CHANGE+, MR BREMRIDGE SAID, +1 WELCOME THIS APPROACH AND APPLAUD YOUR ORGANISING COMMITTEE'S SKILLS IN IDENTIFYING OTHER WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN ASSIST THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMY.+

HE SAID THAT HONG KONG HAD TO BE FLEXIBLE IN COPING WITH WORLD RECESSION AND INCREASING MOVES TOWARDS PROTECTIONISM IN SOME OF ITS MAJOR MARKETS, AND HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIALISTS HAD IN THIS FREE MARKET ECONOMY CONTINUALLY TO ADAPT TO CHANGING EXTERNAL CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

+WE ARE FORTUNATE INDEED TO HAVE SUCH A HIGHLY-MOTIVATED AND FLEXIBLE WORK FORCE. THIS IS IN NO SMALL WAY DUE TO THE PROFESSIONAL MANNER IN WHICH SUCH RAPID ADAPTATION IS HANDLED BY PERSONNEL MANAGERS, HE SAID.

MR BREMRIDGE SAID IT WAS GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT SERIOUS STUDY IS BEING UNDERTAKEN IN SUCH AREAS AS CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND THE MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE, FOR HONG KONG WILL ONLY SURVIVE IF IT CONTINUES TO DIVERSIFY, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS PRODUCTS AND MAKE THE MOST OF THESE GAPS IN THE WORLD MARKET-PLACE WHICH IT CAN PROFITABLY EXPLOIT.

+THIS WILL HELP MAINTAIN OUR RECORD OF REASONABLY FULL EMPLOYMENT TO WHICH I AM COMMITTED, HE SAID.

/HE NOTED