XN000022-1987-03-18 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1987

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT LOCAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES FROM ANY DAMAGING EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED FACTORIES, IN THE COURSE OF IMPLEMENTING A STRICTER POLLUTION CONTROL FOR BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE NOTED,

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING TAX CONCESSIONS, BY WAY OF AN INCENTIVE, TO THOSE LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS WHO HELPED IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY TAKING EFFECTIVE STEPS, SUCH AS USING MORE EXPENSIVE OIL, ADDING EXTRA EQUIPMENT, USING MORE EXPENSIVE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION.

PROF POON ALSO SAID THAT THE PROGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE MONITORED CONSTANTLY AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE PRAGMATIC MARKET STUDIES.

HE SAID THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WAS STILL MAKING REFERENCES TO A REPORT TO REVIEW HONG KONG'S STRATEGY IN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED EIGHT YEARS AGO. HE THEREFORE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER, REVIEW AND ASSESS IN DEPTH THE ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT THE EFFECTS OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT ON THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, AND THE MEASURES WHICH HAD TO BE TAKEN IN THE FUTURE TO ENHANCE THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER ECONOMIC GROWTH IN HONG KONG.

ON TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND MARKETING RESEARCH STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD ON VARIOUS INDUSTRIES TO IDENTIFY TRENDS FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, PROF POON SAID A CONTINUAL MONITORING OF THESE STUDIES TO ENSURE THEIR VALIDITY WAS IMPORTANT. HE REQUESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THIS EFFORT, SAYING THAT THIS WOULD BENEFIT THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE IN THE LONG RUN.

LASTLY, PROF POON URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANCY MONITORING AND ADVISING ON RELEVANT GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES, AND PROMOTING EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

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