XN000022-1986-03-26 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986

+THE GOVERNMENT IS RIGHT TO ADOPT A POLICY OF CASTING A SAFETY NET TO OFFER HELP TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE GREATEST NEED BUT THE GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY MUST NOT ASSUME THE SUICIDAL ROLE OF BEING THE ULTIMATE PROVIDER TO OUR CITIZENS FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE, HE ADDED.

MR CHEONG ALSO VOICED HIS GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE POLICY OF NON-INTERVENTIONISM, STRESSING THAT WE MUST NOT SEEK ARTIFICIALLY TO IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES THROUGH SUBSIDIES.

NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RECOGNISE CONSCIOUSLY THE NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID HE SAW THE NEED TO ASSESS THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES OF VARIOUS LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SOCIAL LEGISLATION, AND ALSO FOR THE FINDINGS OF THIS ASSESSMENT TO BE MADE PUBLIC WHEN AVAILABLE.

IT IS BECAUSE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CUMULATIVE COST OF ALL SUCH LEGISLATIONS ON MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES WOULD HELP TO ESTABLISH A CLEARER BASE FOR DECIDING WHETHER THE COST OF ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION COULD BE SUSTAINED BY THE MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

FINALLY, MR CHEONG POINTED OUT THE TIME MIGHT HAVE COME FOR RE-APPRAISAL OF OUR STRATEGY FOR DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY,

HE SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SETTING UP IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME A HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE, CHAIRED EITHER BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OR THE HON SIR S.Y. CHUNG, TO TAKE UP THIS TASK.

HE SAID THE COMMITTEE SHOULD REVIEW AND ASSESS IN DEPTH THE DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION IN 1979 THE EFFECTS OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT ON OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN PARTICULAR- AND THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO ENHANCE THE PROSPECT OF HONG KONG'S FURTHER ECONOMIC GRIWTH.

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