XN000022-1986-04-08 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1986

THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING LAND FOR FACTORIES WITH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, MR HO SAID, AND IT NOW HOUSED SOME OF THE MOST MODERN PLANTS IN HONG KONG.

HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO LEND SUPPORT TO INDUSTRY THROUGH MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMMES. THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982 AND SINCE THEN A SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPING AND EXPANDING TRAINING FACILITIES HAD BEEN PURSUED WITH FULL FUNDING BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED THE SETTING UP OF THREE NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, TWO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING COMPLEXES AND THE LAUNCHING OF AN ENGINEERING GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEME.

THE FACILITIES WOULD BUILD ON THE FOUNDATIONS PROVIDED BY PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS. IN THIS FIELD THE CMA HAD PLAYED A VALUABLE PART BY FOUNDING TWO SCHOOLS. THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PLACES IN PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

EXPANSION WAS ALSO PLANNED AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL THROUGH INCREASES IN STUDENT INTAKES ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE NEW CITY POLYTECHNIC AND IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A THIRD UNIVERSITY.

MR HO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CMA FOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MANUFACTURERS AND IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO INDUSTRY.

+I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE OUR INDUSTRIALISTS THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT POSSIBLY SUBSIDISE OR PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR PARTICULAR SECTORS OF HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, IT REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING AVAILABLE THE SUPPORT SERVICES AND FACILITIES REQUIRED BY MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO MEET ITS CHANGING NEEDS, HE CONCLUDED.

FUNDS SOUGHT FOR COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO APPROVE AN ALLOCATION OF $8.4 MILLION TO CARRY OUT A SECOND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY (CTS).

THE STUDY, IF APPROVED, WILL HELP THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT PREDICT THE DEMAND FOR TRANSPORT UP TO 2001.

/BECAUSE OF