XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

+GIVEN HONG KONG'S FULL EMPLOYMENT SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AT THIS SATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS, ANY FURTHER LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MANUFACTURING BASE WILL NEED TO LOOK SERIOUSLY INTO FINE TUNING OF OUR PRODUCTION METHODS, HE SAID.

MR CHEONG CITED THE KNITTING OF PANELS FOR THE SWEATER INDUSTRY AS A CASE IN POINT.

HE SAID NOW THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD CHOSEN TO CHANGE THE RULES UNILATERALLY WITHOUT REGARD TO THE IR OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS, OUR WORKFORCE WOULD DEFINITELY BE FACED WITH ADJUSTMENTS PROBLEMS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THEIR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

+SURELY, UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WOULD BE A CASE FOR SERIOUS THOUGHTS ON HOW BEST HONG KONG CAN DO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SOME STABILITY TO THE SITUATION.

+WE ASK NO MORE THAN THE SETTING UP OF A COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE CONCEPT SERIOUSLY, HE SAID.

++ SINCERELY HOPE THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD BE OPEN MINDED ENOUGH TO REFRAIN FROM TORPEDOING THE CONCEPT WITH JUST A STEREOTYPE RESPONSE, MR CHEONG CONCLUDED.

CLOSER LOOK AT SUBSIDY POLICIES PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS.TODAY URGED TO LOOK FOR WAYS AND MEANS TO REDUCE EXPENDITURE WITHOUT AFFECTING THE LONG TERM GOAL OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.

SPEAKING AT THE FIRST DAY OF THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HON F.K. HU SAID WE MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO WERE LEAST ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES BUT HE SAW NO REASON TO CARRY ON POLICIES WHICH ALLOWED FOR ACROSS-THE-BOARD SUBSIDY INCLUDING SUBSIDISING THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST.

+THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO AS CONSIDERABLE SAVING CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE PRINCIPLE OF CARING FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT CARE FOR THEMSELVES, HE SAID.

CITING THE CASE OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, MR HU SAID IT WAS EVIDENT SOME OF THEM HAD PROSPERED OVER THE YEARS SINCE THEY MOVED INTO PUBLIC HOUSING.

HE SAID