XN000022-1985-12-11 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985

+LET US NOT FORGET THAT ASSISTANCE TO AN INDUSTRY MEANS THE TRANSFER OF RESOURCES FROM THE TAXPAYERS' POCKETS THAT IS INCLUDING THE POCKETS OF OTHER INDUSTRIAL ISTS. FURTHERMORE, THESE SUBSIDISES WILL COME TO NOUGHT WHEN THE GOODS THEY PRODUCED ATTRACT COUNTERVAILING DUTIES IN OVERSEAS MARKETS.+

ON INFORMATION AND HIGHER TECHNOLOGY, MR HO POINTED OUT THAT AN ON-GOING TASK OF THE ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER-AIDED-DESIGN/ COMPUTER-AIDED MANUFACTURING (CAD/CAM) SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD WAS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS IN RESPECT OF ELECTRONICS, CAD/CAM OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

+DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE SUB-COMMITTEES INVOLVING INDUSTRIAL ISTS, ACADEMICS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE BEING HELD REGULARLY WITH A VIEW TO MAPPING OUT A STRATEGY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.+

AS REGARDS CONSUMER PROTECTION, MR HO SAID 1985 HAD BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN HONG KONG AND HE WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THE GOVERNMENT'S THANKS TO THE CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR THE INVALUABLE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF CONSUMER ISSUES.

+DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE TO STRENGTHEN ITS ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS,+ HE ADDED.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TAKES BIG STEP FORWARD

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THE SYSTEM OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION HAD TAKEN A BIG STEP FORWARD THIS YEAR, SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS TO THE COUNCIL, MR LIAO SAID WITH THE INCREASE OF ELECTED MEMBERS AND THE ELECTION OF THEIR OWN CHAIRMEN, THE BAORDS HAVE BECOME MORE REPRESENTATIVE AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.+

THEY HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO TAKE INITIATIVES IN REFLECTING THE VIEWS AND ASPIRATIONS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS NOT ONLY ON DISTRICT MATTERS BUT ON IMPORTANT ISSUES OF TERRITORY-WIDE SIGNIFICANCE, HE SAID.

+DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE BECOME A WELL ACCEPTED AND INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY AND ARE EFFECTIVE IN FULFILLING THE IR FUNCTIONS, HE ADDED.

/THE SYSTEM

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