XN000022-1984-05-25 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1984

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IN RECOGNISING THAT SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES HAVE A MOST IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISABLED PRE-SCHOOLERS, THE WORKING PARTY ALSO RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE IR STAFFING STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF STAFFING RATIOS, SPECIALIST SUPPORT, AND SCHEDULES OF ACCOMMODATION.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS DEAL WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO CURRENT SERVICES, INCLUDING A FULL-TIME PRE-SERVICE COURSE OF TRAINING LASTING TWO YEARS TO TRAIN PERSONNEL FOR SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND SIMILAR PROGRAMMES, AND AN IN-SERVICE COURSE LASTING SIX MONTHS AS AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT AND IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL ABILITIES OF THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE SERVICE.

A COPY OF THE REPORT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE REHABILITATION DIVISION, EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH BY CALLING 5-95697.

INVESTMENT INTEREST IN HK AT HIGH LEVEL

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OVERSEAS INTEREST IN INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG REMAINS HIGH, OVERSEAS INTEREST IN I MR JOHN YAXLEY, DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, TOLD THE FINAL PLENARY SESSION OF THE PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL MEETING IN VANCOUVER YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).

THE MAIN INTEREST, HE SAID, CAME FROM THE TRADITIONAL MAIN

MR YAXLEY SOURCES OF SUCH INTEREST - NORTH AMERICA AND JAPAN. WAS HOPEFUL THAT THIS WOULD CONTINUE.

+SET AS IT IS IN THE CENTRE OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGION ON EARTH, AND UNIQUELY SITUATED AS IT IS TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF BOTH THE REGION AND MAINLAND CHINA, HONG KONG REMAINS, AND IS LIKELY TO REMAIN FOR THE MATERIAL FUTURE, A PLACE OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ENTERPRISE AND INITIATIVE,+ MR YAXLEY SAID.

ADDRESSING SOME 400 SENIOR BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FROM 20 OR MORE COUNTRIES, MR YAXLEY SAID THAT HONG KONG WELCOMED COMPANIES OF ALL TYPES AND SIZES.

DESPITE PRESENT UNCERTAINTIES, MR YAXLEY REITERATED THAT IT WAS VERY MUCH BUSINESS AS USUAL IN HONG KONG,

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CITING TRADE FIGURES, MR YAXLEY SAID DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, HONG KONG'S TOTAL TRADE WAS 48 PER CENT UP ON THE CORRESPONDING QUARTER LAST YEAR, AT HK$94.6 BILLION.

+OUR IMPORTS ROSE BY 43 PER CENT, AND OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS

BY SOME 51 PER CENT. RE-EXPORTS WERE UP BY 59 PER CENT.

+ I THINK YOU WILL AGREE THAT THESE ARE NOT THE SYMPTOMS OF AN ECONOMY IN DECLINE, HE SAID.

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