XN000022-1985-05-19 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1985

THE PAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF EXCO. THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS CEASED TO BE AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER IN AUGUST 1983 BUT REMAINED AN OFFICIAL MEMBER UNTIL HE WAS REPLACED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN JANUARY 1985. THE NUMBER OF NOMINATED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FLUCTUATED FROM NINE IN 1983 TO 11 IN 1984 AND THEN TO NINE AGAIN IN 1985.

FOR THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, AS STATED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, THERE IS NO INTENTION TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AFFECTING EXCO.

SIR EDWARD MADE THIS KNOWN WHEN TABLING THE +WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG+ IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 21 LAST YEAR.

HE RECALLED THAT IT HAD BEEN PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER, WHICH PRECEDED THE WHITE PAPER, THAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD. IN DUE COURSE, ELECT THE MAJORITY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXCO FROM AMONG THE IR OWN NUMBER. HE ALSO

•NOTED THE CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM.+

THE GOVERNOR THEN SAID: THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND ITS COMPOSITION AND ROLE WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION AT A LATER STAGE.+

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MARCH ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL FIGURES OUT ******

THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN TERMS OF MONTHS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECLINED IN MARCH 1985 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

WHILE AN INCREASE IN ORDERS-ON-HAND WAS REPORTED IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, ORDERS IN THE WEARING APPAREL, PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES DROPPED. THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY, ON THE OTHER HAND, REPORTED NO CHANGE IN THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS HELD.

EMPLOYMENT IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES DECREASED. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN THE CASE OF THE ELECTRICAL AND

ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.

DECREASES IN PAYROLL AND IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BY ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AS MANY FIRMS DISTRIBUTED YEAR-END BONUS AND DOUBLE PAY IN FEBRUARY.

'EMPLOYMENT IN