XN000022-1983-10-05 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1983

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DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE 1990'S AND BEYOND

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A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO MEET THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF HONG KONG INTO THE 1990'S AND THE NEXT CENTURY WILL HAVE TO BE FORMULATED DURING THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THE AMBITIOUS NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES STARTED IN THE 1970'S SHOULD BE LARGELY COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE PRESENT DECADE,

HE ADDED: +THE TIME HAS NOW COME TO LOOK FURTHER AHEAD TO ENSURE THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF OUR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR HOUSING, EDUCATION AND OTHER SOCIAL PROGRAMMES.+

THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE GOOD PROGRESS WITH MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND HAD PURSUED ITS LONG-TERM SOCIAL PROGRAMMES.

TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON ALL CAPITAL WORKS THIS FINANCIAL YEAR ARE FORECAST TO BE $13.3 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 13 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S EXPENDITURE WHICH WAS ITSELF THE HIGHEST EVER.

MOST OF THE MONEY WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS AND UPGRADING THE ROAD SYSTEM BUT SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, HAD NOT BEEN NEGLECTED, SIR EDWARD SAID.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON NEW PUBLIC HOUSING, INCLUDING THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO BE $3.7 BILLION THIS YEAR, WHEN PRODUCTION IS FORECAST TO BE A RECORD 36 500 FLATS.

THE GOVERNOR SAID STEADY ADVANCES HAD BEEN MADE IN MANY OTHER AREAS AND PARTICULAR ATTENTION WOULD BE PAID IN THE COMING YEAR TO THE FORMULATION OF LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND TO EDUCATION.

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT ANOTHER VITAL TASK WOULD BE THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, A SUBJECT TO WHICH THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNCIL ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE.

HE SHARED THE VIEW THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, ITS QUALITY AND DIRECTION, WERE MATTERS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNOR SAID IMPROVEMENTS WERE ALREADY BEING MADE IN THE STANDARDS OF TEACHING IN SCHOOLS VOCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING WERE BEING EXPANDED AND THE NUMBER OF DEGREE AND HIGHER DIPLOMA PLACES AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC

INCREASED.

+ IT IS NOW NECESSARY TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AS A WHOLE TO ENSURE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IT REMAINS GEARED TO THE FUTURE NEEDS OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

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