XN000022-1986-03-26 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986

IN THE SAME WAY, PROF. POON SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A STERILISATION PLANT, WHICH MIGHT COST ABOUT $8 MILLION.

HE SAID THE FACILITY WOULD STIMULATE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STERILISED MEDICAL PLASTICS FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION OR FOR EXPORT AND ALSO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN RECURRENT GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE IN THE LONG RUN.

IN ADDITION, THE FACILITY COULD BE EXPANDED TO ENABLE THE FOOD INDUSTRY TO USE IT FOR KEEPING FRESH FOOD PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM CHINA FOR RE-EXPORT, HE ADDED.

+THERE HAVE BEEN POSITIVE INDICATIONS FROM OVERSEAS MANUFACTURERS THAT THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY IF THERE IS ONE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID,

PROF. POON ALSO REITERATED HIS EARLIER SUGGESTION TO GOVERNMENT FOR ESTABLISHING A TRADE AND INDUSTRY COMMISSION TO ENSURE BETTER CO-ORDINATION AND PROVIDE IMPETUS TO THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR TO ACQUIRE NEW TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE.

HE SAID THE COMMISSION MUST HAVE A CO-ORDINATING AND COMPREHENSIVE ROLE IN THE AREA OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND FOR FORMULATING LONG-TERM PLANS FOR THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.

THE COMMISSION SHOULD COMPRISE MAINLY UNOFFICIALS, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE INDUSTRIALISTS, MANUFACTURERS AND ACADEMICS= AND THE CHAIRMAN SHOULD BE AN UNOFFICIAL, HE SAID.

+THIS KIND OF COMPOSITION WOULD ENSURE THAT THE COMMISSION COULD OPERATE SMOOTHLY AND FLEXIBLY AND WOULD LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES WHICH AFFECT TRADE AND INDUSTRY,+ HE NOTED.

HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMISSION MIGHT SET UP A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COUNCIL TO PROMOTE THE USE OF HI-TECH IN LOCAL INDUSTRIES, THEREBY SECURING THE ROLE OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY AND TRADE IN THE 1990S.

+THE ISSUES OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND HI-TECH DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. THE SHAPE OF OUR FUTURE WILL DEPEND ON THE RESULTS OF OUR EFFORTS PLUS GOVERNMENT'S WILLINGNESS TO UNDERTAKE RESPONSIBILITIES, HE SAID.

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