XN000022-1984-11-15 — Page 9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1984

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IN THE SEVENTIES, THE GOVERNMENT FACED A GROWING DEMAND FOR LAND, AND RECOGNISED THAT SPECIAL MEASURES WERE NEEDED TO CATER FOR THE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY. A SPECIAL INDUSTRIES POLICY WAS THUS AGREED TO ACCOMMODATE LAND AND CAPITAL INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES. BRINGING NEW AND SUBSTANTIALLY MORE SOPHISTICATED PROCESSES TO HONG KONG.

SPECIAL PRIVATE TREATY TERMS WERE AGREED BECAUSE THE FIRMS INVOLVED WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPETE ON THE OPEN MARKET FOR LAND AGAINST COMPETITORS LOOKING FOR MUCH MORE INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS POLICY WAS AUGMENTED BY THE FORMATION OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION.

FACED WITH CHANGING TIMES, THE CORPORATION REALISED RECENTLY THAT SOME OF ITS RULES AND REGULATIONS WERE NO LONGER APPROPRIATE AND TOOK STEPS EARLIER THIS YEAR TO LIBERALISE THE SELECTION CRITERIA, THE TERMS OF LEASES, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT OF LAND PREMIA. THE RESULT HAS BEEN A MUCH GREATER INTEREST IN THE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH THESE TWO ESTATES HAVE TO OFFER.

BECAUSE OF INCREASING QUOTA RESTRICTIONS ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING EXPORTS, AND INCREASING COMPETITION FROM HONG KONG'S NEIGHBOURS, THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION IN 1977, TO ADVISE WHETHER DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR. COULD BE FACILITATED BY THE MODIFICATION OF EXISTING POLICIES OR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW POLICIES.

THIS COMMITTEE MADE A SERIES OF PROPOSALS WHICH WERE NOW IN VARIOUS STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION, HE SAID.

THREE AREAS WERE OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF GOVERNMENT'S POSITIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE FIRST AREA WAS THE NEED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT FACILITIES AND TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICES. POSITIVE ACTION TAKEN TO DATE INCLUDED:

* THE PLANNING OF A GOVERNMENT LABORATORY ACCREDITATION

SYSTEM AS PART OF AN IMPROVED AND MORE CLEARLY INDEPENDENT RANGE OF QUALITY CERTIFICATION SERVICES ;

* THE OPENING OF A GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION

LABORATORY WHICH TOOK PLACE IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR :

* THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE MICROPROCESSOR DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY IN THE HKPC TO PROMOTE THE APPLICATION OF MICROPROCESSORS IN INDUSTRY:

THE PROVISION