XN000022-1984-03-16 — Page 4

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984

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ARBITRATION CENTRE NEEDED IN HONG KONG AG

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, THIS (FRIDAY)

EVENING ADVOCATED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION. CENTRE IN HONG KONG.

AND HE SAW THE ESTABLISHMENT AS COMMON CAUSE AMONG PROFESS UNS IN HONG KONG.

ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSIT FUTION OF ENGINEERS, MR THOMAS NOTED THAT ENGINEERS AND LAWYERS HAD A JOINT PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN THE PURSUIT OF ARBITRATION.

HONG KONG HAD ABOUT THE BEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SET OF ARBITRATION LAWS IN THE WORLD, AND THE NEED NOW WAS TO PUSH THE ARBITRATION CENTRE PROJECT INTO A REALITY.

+GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED AT THE OUTSET TO MAKE AVAILABLE SUITABLE PREMISES RENT FREE, IF THE PROFESSIONS AND THOSE WHO WISH TO SEE ADEQUATE FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR EFFICIENT ARBITRATION WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO GET THE PROJECT OFF THE GROUND, HE ADDED.

ANOTHER COMMON CAUSE AMONG THE PROFESSIONS IN HONG KONG WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL CENTRE AS PROPOSED BY THE INSTITUTION'S PRESIDENT, MR THOMAS CONTINUED.

DESCRIBING THE PROPOSED CENTRE AS A REAL STEP FORWARD MR THOMAS SAID IT WOULD ENABLE PROFESSIONALS TO PLAY A MORE IMPORTANT PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE TERRITORY.

HE NOTED THAT UNLIKE THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION IN BRITAIN WHICH HAS BEEN FRAGMENTATED INTO MANY RIVAL INSTITUTIONS, THE PROFESSION IN HONG KONG HAD SHOWN ENTERPRISE IN ADVOCATING UNITY AND A COMMON CAUSE.

APPRENTICES TOLD OF ROLE IN FUTURE

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A GROUP OF APPRENTICES GRADUATING FROM A FOUR-YEAR GOVERNMENT TRAINING SCHEME WERE DESCRIBED TODAY (FRIDAY) AS THE NEW WAVE+ OF TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE ON WHOSE SKILLS HONG KONG WOULD BE DEPENDING IN THE FUTURE.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WAS SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION OF 96 CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES FROM A TRAINING SCHEME JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HELD AT MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

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1R CHEONG-LEIN