XN000022-1986-03-26 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986

'HELP INDUSTRIES DEVELOP HI-TECH'

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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASSIST AND ENCOURAGE INDUSTRIALISTS TO DEVELOP HIGH TECHNOLOGY SO AS TO IMPROVE LOCAL EXPORT PRODUCTS, THE HON JACKIE CHAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT AS HONG KONG'S ECONOMY WAS ALWAYS VULNERABLE TO EXTERNAL FACTORS AND ITS PRODUCTION FACILITIES REMAINED TRADITIONAL WITH THE WORKFORCE BEING PAID HIGHER THAN ITS COUNTERPARTS, THE EXPORT OF HONG KONG'S PRODUCTS WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS DUTY-BOUND TO HELP INDUSTRIALISTS PROMOTE THE IR INDUSTRIES AND REGRETTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD IN THE PAST NEGLECTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ENHANCING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOP- MENT BY ADOPTING AN UNDULY RESERVED ATTITUDE.

+ IT IS MY SUBMISSION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE AN ABOUT-TURN IN ITS POLICY AND ACT WITHOUT DELAY BUT WITH FLEXIBILITY TO PREVENT THE SITUATION FROM FURTHER DETERIORATING. +

MR CHAN SAID THE TIME HAD COME FOR GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST AND ENCOURAGE INDUSTRIALISTS IN DEVELOPING HIGH TECHNOLOGY WHICH WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO IMPROVE EXPORT PRODUCTS.

HE SAID THERE WERE A NUMBER OF WAYS THROUGH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT COULD ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING THE OPENING UP OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, RELAXATION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FACTORIES, AND GRANTING INTERESTED INDUSTRIALISTS SPECIAL CONCESSIONS. IN DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES.

MR CHAN ALSO SUGGESTED THE SETTING UP OF A HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND PROMOTION RESEARCH CENTRE TO STUDY PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES IN ADVANCED COUNTRIES.

THE CENTRE SHOULD ALSO GATHER INFORMATION ON THE NEW TREND OF PRODUCTS MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY OVERSEAS MARKETS, ASSIST MANUFACTURERS IN THE USE OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY,

IMPROVE

THE QUALITY OF PRODUCTS, INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND FOSTER DIVERSIFICATION AND PUBLICITY, HE SAID.

MR CHAN STRESSED THAT IN PERFORMING THE ABOVE ROLES, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE INDIRECTLY ASSISTING INDUSTRY AND NOT DIRECTLY

INTERFERING WITH INDUSTRY.

ON THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE ALLOWANCES FOR SALARY TAX, HE SAID THE PROPOSED INCREASES WERE TOO MEAN AND WERE OF LITTLE HELP IN ALLEVIATING THE PUBLIC'S BURDEN.

+I HOPE THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD RECONSIDER IT WITH A VIEW TO RAISING THE LEVEL OF THE INCREASES,+ HE SAID.

/HE SUGGESTED