XN000022-1987-03-18 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1987

HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT HONG KONG'S TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRIES WOULD REMAIN IN THEIR LEADING POSITION LOCALLY AND IN THE WORLD FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

THEREFORE, HE SAID, TO COUNTERACT THE PROTECTIONIST RESTRICTIONS, WE NEEDED TO DIVERSIFY OUR PRODUCTS AS WELL AS TO UPGRADE THEIR QUALITY IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING NEW MARKETS.

ON THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING INSTITUTIONS, MR WONG SAID LESSONS SHOULD BE LEARNED FROM THE MESS WE EXPERIENCED AND ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE STRICTLY.

+WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAPPENING AGAIN AND

BE MADE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESCUE, HE SAID.

ON WIDENING THE SCOPE OF INDIRECT TAXES AND THE SALARIES TAX NET MR WONG SAID HE FOUND THE CHOICE BETWEEN THEM A DILEMMA.

HE SAID THERE WERE PROS AND CONS OF THIS QUESTION AND HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO GIVE THE MATTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION IN THE COMING MONTHS, AND TO TAKE IN THE OVERALL ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG IN THE INTERVENING PERIOD BEFORE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY DREW UP THE NEXT BUDGET.

EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH. HE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE DUTY ON NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, WHICH WAS RE-INTRODUCED IN 1985-86 MAINLY AS A REVENUE RAISING MEASURE, HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED EVEN WITH THE IMPROVED OVERALL REVENUE POSITION.

MR WONG ALSO SPOKE ON THE SUBJECT OF POLLUTION CONTROL. HE WELCOMED THE UPGRADING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY INTO A DEPARTMENT, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET AND AN ENLARGED ESTABLISHMENT.

HE HOPED THAT NOT ONLY WOULD ITS STAFF BE EMPOWERED BY LAW TO COMBAT POLLUTION BUT THEY WOULD ALSO EDUCATE AND ADVISE INDUSTRIALISTS ON THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

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