XN000022-1986-02-20 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1986

THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HAD THROUGH ITS TRAINING CENTRES BEEN PARTICULARLY ACTIVE IN THIS AREA.

HE ADDED THAT A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WAS DEVOTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, THROUGH SUBVENTION MADE TO UPGC, IS ESTIMATED AT $1.7 BILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

HE SAID THAT IN THIS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE, MANUFACTURERS HAD REALISED THAT THEY HAD TO PRODUCE GOODS WHICH MET THE DEMANDS OF CONSUMERS.

MR JACOBS SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS AND OVER THE PAST DECADE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAD BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE QUALITY CONSCIOUSNESS IN LOCAL MANUFACTURERS.

HE COMMENDED THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE +GREAT VIGOUR+ OF HONG KONG, AN ASPECT OF HONG KONG'S PERSONALITY WHICH HE FOUND VERY IMPRESSIVE.

THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR HAD BEEN FOR MANY YEARS THE LARGEST IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE GDP, HE SAID.

ANOTHER MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTOR WAS THE MUTUAL SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTED BY TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JACOBS STRESSED.

+IN FUTURE, AS IN THE PAST, WE MUST CONTINUE TO LEARN NEW METHODS AND NEW TRADES, TO TAKE RISKS, TO SAVE, TO INVEST AND TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF OUR OUTPUT.

+1 BELIEVE IN CONTINUITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMY, A STRIVING AFTER EXCELLENCE IN QUALITY IN ALL ITS ASPECTS, AND THE EVOLUTION OF OUR INSTITUTIONS.

+WE MUST BE OUTWARD LOOKING AND DEVELOP OUR CONTACTS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. IN THESE WAYS WE SHALL SAFEGUARD OUR WAY OF LIFE AND HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR,+ MR JACOBS SAID.

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