XN000022-1988-05-04 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1988

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FUTURE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY BEING EXAMINED * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH VARIOUS STATUTORY BODIES, IS LOOKING INTO FUTURE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY AND WAYS TO PROMOTE INVESTMENT, QUALITY IN MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTIVITY, AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A SCIENCE PARK OR TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1988, MR JACOBS REITERATED THAT THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECTOR HAD MADE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS.

ON A COMMENT ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, MR JACOBS QUESTIONED WHETHER THERE WAS A NEED FOR

ONE.

"I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT MARKET FORCES MUST BE THE PRIME DETERMINANT OF THE DIRECTION TO BE TAKEN BY OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

HE SAID,

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"BUSINESSMEN, NOT BUREAUCRATS, SHOULD MAKE BUSINESS DECISIONS,"

"IT IS PARTLY BECAUSE BUSINESSMEN ENJOY THIS FREEDOM IN HONG KONG THAT OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.

"THIS DOES NOT MEAN OUR MANUFACTURERS LACK GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OR THAT THE SUPPORT IS UNPLANNED. WE GIVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE NECESSARY TRAINING FACILITIES.

"WE ALSO PROVIDE

MANUFACTURERS WITH SERVICES AIMED AT

IMPROVING BOTH PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY, HE SAID.

THIS, HE SAID, WAS DONE IN A RATIONAL MANNER BY KEEPING THE QUALITY AND LEVEL OF SUPPORT UNDER REVIEW IN THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (IDB), AND BY MAINTAINING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE PROGRAMME OF INDUSTRIAL STUDIES WHICH HAD BEEN VERY HElpful IN IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS WERE NEEDED.

ON HELPING INDUSTRIES ACHIEVE A HIGHER MEASURE OF QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY THROUGH AUTOMATION, MR JACOBS SAID WHILE QUALITY SUPPORT SERVICES FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENT WERE ALREADY WELL DEVELOPED, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, ON THE ADVICE OF THE IDB, WAS CONSIDERING WHAT MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE QUALITY IN MANUFACTURING.

"AS REGARDS