XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

SIR DAVID SAID THE REASON FOR SETTING UP THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WAS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO DRAW UPON ALL THE EXPERTISE BOTH FROM WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AND FROM OUTSIDE AND TO IDENTIFY SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AREAS FOR PRIORITY TREATMENT.

"WE LOOK TO THE COMMITTEE TO PRODUCE IDEAS IN THE ARRA OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WHICH ARE OF DIRECT AND PRACTICAL RELEVANCE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, OR WHICH ARE OF POTENTIAL LONG-TERM BENEFIT TO THE ECONOMY, AND TO RECOMMEND SPECIFIC ACTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF THESE IDEAS,

"I AM ENCOURAGED THAT THE COMMITTEE IS PURSUING ITS TASKS VIGOROUSLY," SIR DAVID SAID.

HE SAID THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WAS NOW DEVELOPING, TOGETHER WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, A SPECIFIC WORK PROGRAMME COVERING A FEW KEY ISSUES AND ACTIVITIES WHICH WERE CONSIDERED TO BE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND IMPORTANCE.

"WE EXPECT THIS PROGRAMME TO BE ROLLED FORWARD ANNUALLY IN THE FUTURE," HE ADDED.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS NEED TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE WITH ADEQUATE SUPPORT, IN TERMS BOTH OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE BACK-UP, ΤΟ ENABLE THE COMMITTEE то UNDERTAKE BASIC RESEARCH, COMMISSION FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND ORGANISE ACTIVITIES.

"WE ARE WORKING HARD ON THIS AND WILL HAVE SOME POSITIVE PROPOSALS TO PUT TO THE COMMITTEE SHORTLY, HE SAID.

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CS THANKS MEMBERS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID

FORD, THANKED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)' FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.

"SPEECHES HAVE VARIED GREATLY IN STYLE, CONTENT AND TONE. BUT WE HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE VARIETY AND DIVERSITY

OF VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS CHAMBER AS A REFLECTION OF THOSE HELD IN COMMUNITY AT LARGE, SIR DAVID SAID IN HIS CLOSING REMARKS.

TI

"THIS IS WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE

REPRESENTATIVE

THE

SYSTEM

OF GOVERNMENT IS ALL ABOUT.'

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/SUPPORTING THE

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