XN000022-1984-06-08 — Page 4

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1984

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LAST YEAR, HONG KONG'S RETAINED IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS, SEMI-MANUFACTURES AND CAPITAL GOODS AMOUNTED TO HK$69 BILLION, REPRESENTING ALMOST 58 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL RETAINED

IMPORTS AND A 28 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1982.

HONG KONG INDUSTRY'S DEMAND FOR MATERIALS AND MACHINERY WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW AS HONG KONG NEEDED TO BROADEN ITS INDUSTRIAL BASE AND STRENGTHEN ITS LINKAGE AND SUPPORT INDUSTRIES, HE REMARKED.

MR YAXLEY PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE OVERSEAS COMPANIES WHICH HAVE TRANSFERRED THEIR TECHNOLOGY HERE BY SUPPLYING HONG KONG WITH THEIR MATERIALS, MACHINERY, AND SERVICES, AND INVITED THEM +TO TAKE ONE STEP FURTHER BY DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN HONG KONG INDUSTRY+.

+BY THE END OF LAST YEAR, WE ALREADY HAD A TOTAL OF 530 WHOLLY OVERSEAS-OWNED OR JOINT-VENTURE FACTORIES KNOWN TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT TO BE OPERATING IN HONG KONG. WE WOULD WELCOME MORE COMPANIES TO JOIN THEIR RANKS AND SHARE HONG KONG'S SUCCESS, + MR YAXLEY SAID.

INDUSTRY'S SUPPORT FOR BOARDS URGED

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FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE MORE CHANCES FOR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL AFFAIRS AND WILL MAKE DISTRICT BOARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE, THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR K.C. KWONG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

BUT THIS COULD ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL IF PEOPLE BECAME MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT POLICIES WERE IN LINE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND WOULD HELP IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIAL ISTS ASSOCIATION, MR KWONG SAID DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN DOING A LOT SINCE 1981 TO IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOOD OF RESIDENTS.

+THE BOARD'S ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE LAID A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE INCREASE IN ELECTED SEATS IN DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE ELECTION OF UNOFFICIAL BOARD CHAIRMAN, HE SAID.

WHILE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCREASE REPRESENTATION ON THE 'DISTRICT BOARDS, IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE BALANCED

REPRESENTATION FROM EVERY SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS, INCLUDING THE 900 000 PEOPLE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, SHOULD REGISTER AS VOTERS AND VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, HE SAID.

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