XN000022-1987-03-10 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1987

+FINALLY A SERIOUS LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY WOULD BE QUITE INCONSISTENT WITH THE TREND OF INWARD INVESTMENT IN RECENT YEARS.

+STATISTICAL DATA ON THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN RESPECT OF PROJECTS FACILITATED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SHOW A SHARPLY RISING TREND:

VALUE OF INWARD INVESTMENT

($ MILLION AT CURRENT PRICES)

1983

1984

1985

1986

12

40

286

500

+MOREOVER THE QUALITY OF THAT INVESTMENT HAS BEEN IMPROVING OVER THE YEARS, AS EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASING USE OF COMPUTER- CONTROLLED MACHINES, THE INCREASING APPLICATION OF QUALITY CONTROL, THE INCREASING WILLINGNESS TO CARRY OUT PRODUCT DESIGN LOCALLY AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF JOINT VENTURES, WHICH IS INDICATIVE AT LEAST OF A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE NEW PRODUCT AND PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES WITH LOCAL MANUFACTURERS.

+THESE ARE ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF GROWING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG ON THE PART OF OVERSEAS MANUFACTURING INVESTORS,+ HE SAID.

IMPORTANT TO HAVE DEBATE ON BILL

*****

THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL.

SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

ASKED ABOUT HIS REACTION TO COMMENTS EXPRESSED ON THE BILL, SIR DAVID SAID THAT WE HAD TO WAIT NOW UNTIL WE HAD THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.

+THE PUBLIC ORDER BILL IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IT WOULD BE QUITE WRONG OF ME AS PRESIDENT TO COMMENT ANY FURTHER AT THIS STAGE, HE SAID.