XN000022-1987-01-14 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987

MR HU SAID THAT DUE TO THE WEAKNESS IN HONG KONG'S PRODUCTION OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE AND ITS RELATIVELY HIGH LABOUR COST IN THIS REGION, THERE WAS A TENDENCY FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURERS TO MOVE PART OF THEIR PRODUCTION LINES TO CHINA OR TO SET UP NEW PRODUCTION PLANTS THERE.

+ I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE GREAT INCREASE IN AUTOMATED PRODUCTION LINES IN SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN, TO PRODUCE MORE COMPLICATED AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT TO THE U.S., OUR BIGGEST EXPORT MARKET. THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL SERIOUSLY AFFECT OUR EXPORT BUSINESS.+

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY MUST JOINTLY CONSIDER THESE DEVELOPMENTS SERIOUSLY IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.

CHINA'S TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS USEFUL TO HK INDUSTRY

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THE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS CONDUCTED BY MANY UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN CHINA COULD BE APPLIED PRACTICALLY TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG, MR WONG SAID THAT CHINA MIGHT BE READY SOURCE TO FULFIL HONG KONG'S TECHNOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS.

+IN FACT, SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA ARE OF A VERY HIGH STANDARD, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT COST IS MUCH LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAVE TO INCUR TO CONDUCT OUR OWN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTS,+ HE SAID.

CITING AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID THERE WERE MANY TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN CHINA WHICH, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, WERE NOT WELL PUBLICISED. BUT IF THESE INNOVATIONS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRIALISTS IN HONG KONG, IT COULD PROVE TO BE A REAL ASSET TO INDUSTRY.

MR WONG SAID