XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

+RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WILL INITIALLY BE VERY EXPENSIVE BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE TO CATCH UP WITH LOST TIME AND ALSO THAT ONCE WE START REAPING THE RESULTS OF OUR

INVESTMENT, THE REWARDS WILL BE GENEROUS AND OF LASTING CONSEQUENCE,+ HE SAID.

HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A COORDINATING BODY, SUCH AS A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COUNCIL, TO IDENTIFY OUR RESEARCH STRENGTHS AND POTENTIAL TO STIMULATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO IDENTIFY RESEARCH ÁREAS WHICH HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AND TO ALLOCATE FUNDS AS NECESSARY.

IT SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT BODY WITH A MUCH WIDER SCOPE

OF ACTIVITY THAN ENVISAGED BY THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.

+AS A START, PERHAPS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER THE MATTER AND REPORT ON IT TO THE GOVERNMENT,+ HE SUGGESTED.

PROF POON SAID THE AD HOC COMMITTEE COULD ALSO LOOK INTO THE RECRUITMENT OF A REPLACEMENT FOR THE RETIRED GOVERNMENT SCIENTIST.

+RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NOT ONLY HAVE VERY WIDE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES BUT ALSO FOR FINANCE AND SERVICES, AND CONSEQUENTLY ON THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IN TURN, IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN MAKING HONG KONG VALUABLE TO CHINA.

+ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD PROVIDE A SENSE OF PRIDE AND IDENTITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,+ PROF POON SAID.

+ATTACH EQUAL WEIGHT TO ENGLISH AND CHINESE+

*****

THE HOPE TO USE MORE CHINESE AS THE TEACHING LANGUAGE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IS TANTAMOUNT TO DECEIVING OURSELVES IF NOTHING IS DONE TO THE EXISTING WIDESPREAD PHENOMENON OF ATTACHING MORE IMPORTANCE TO ENGLISH AND THE REFUSAL TO RAISE THE STATUS OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE.

STATING THIS AT THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE TODAY (THURSDAY) THE HON SZETO WAH SAID THE PUBLICATION OF A SET OF STATUTORY LAW IN CHINESE WHICH HAD LEGAL STANDING AND THE PRODUCTION OF THE FIRST BILL IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH DURING THE CURRENT SESSION GAVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF

INSTRUCTION.

/APART FROM