XN000022-1986-01-29 — Page 6

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AS TO HONG KONG'S EXPORT GROWTH IN 1985, MR HO REITERATED THAT 1984 WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD YEAR AND HONG KONG'S EXPORT PERFORMANCE IN 1985 OVER 1983 IN ITSELF A YEAR OF CONSIDERABLE GROWTH - SHOWED REASONABLE PROGRESS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.

AND THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1985 SHOWED THAT DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR THAT MONTH REGISTERED A GROWTH OVER BOTH DECEMBER 1984 AND NOVEMBER 1985.

MANY FREE, SPECIAL SCHEMES FOR ELDERLY

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PUBLIC SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WERE NORMALLY FREE OR HEAVILY SUBSIDISED AND THE QUESTION OF CONCESSIONARY RATES DID NOT ARISE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR CHAMBERS SAID ALSO THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF SCHEMES WERE OPERATED AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AT CONCESSIONARY RATES.

THESE WERE MAINLY INITIATED AND CO-ORDINATED BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS WELFARE AGENCIES, SERVICE CLUBS AND DISTRICT BOARDS.

THE SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE PRIVATE MEDICAL TREATMENT AT SPECIAL RATES, REDUCED FARES ON MAXICABS, AND A NUMBER OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS GIVE DISCOUNTS TO ELDERLY CUSTOMERS.

HE DID NOT THINK THERE WOULD BE MUCH TO BE GAINED BY GOVERNMENT BEING INVOLVED IN THE CO-ORDINATION OF SCHEMES OF THIS KIND.

DRUGS CHARGE ABOUT HK NOT SUPPORTED *****

THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE IMPRESSION GIVEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD THAT HONG KONG

THE WAS A MAJOR DRUG RE-EXPORTING CENTRE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR, MR THOMAS SAID THAT THE BOARD HAD STATED IN ITS 1985 REPORT THAT HONG KO... SERVED AS A TRANSHIPMENT POINT FOR HEROIN DESTINED FOR AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

/THIS OBSERVATION