XN000022-1987-06-10 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1987

HOWEVER, FOR CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY HOLDERS, SINCE THEY WERE NOT BRITISH NATIONALS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THEY WERE NOT ENTITLED то BRITISH CONSULAR PROTECTION.

BUT GIVEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, BRITISH CONSULAR POSTS HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY COULD FOR HONG KONG C OF I HOLDERS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE ABROAD, SUCH AS OFFERING CERTAIN OTHER CONSULAR SERVICES OF ASSISTING WITH REPATRIATION AND RENEWAL OF C OF IS, HE ADDED.

MANUFACTURERS NOT DISCOURAGED BY LONG SERVICE PAYMENT SCHEME

HAS

IN

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT SCHEME NEITHER DISCOURAGED SMALL MANUFACTURERS FROM CONTINUING PRODUCTION HONG KONG NOR HAS INDUCED THEM TO SET UP PRODUCTION OUTSIDE OF HONG KONG, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON MICHELANGELO PAGLIARI, SAID IN

(WEDNESDAY).

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR PAGLIARI SAID ACCORDING TO FIGURES PRODUCED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THE NUMBER OF SMALL MANUFACTURERS IN HONG KONG, THAT WAS THOSE EMPLOYING LESS THAN 100 PERSONS, HAD ACTUALLY RISEN BY ONE PER CENT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT SCHEME.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN SUCH COMPANIES HAD ALSO RISEN BY THREE PER CENT.

FURTHERMORE, THIS ITEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AS A BUSINESS PROBLEM IN THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY REPORT PREPARED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.

"THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY INFORMS ME THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS HAVE INDEED SET UP PRODUCTION FACILITIES ACROSS THE BORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOWER LAND AND LABOUR COSTS," HE SAID.

FIRST YEAR OF

HE SAID, HOWEVER, THE COST TO EMPLOYERS IN THE THE SCHEME'S OPERATION HAD BEEN ESTIMATED AT LESS THAN 0.3 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL PAYROLL OF ALL EMPLOYERS, AND WAS NOT EVEN MARGINAL COMPARED WITH LOWER LAND AND LABOUR COSTS OVER THE BORDER.

WHEN

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