XN000022-1989-03-10 — Page 7

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1989

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MR JACOBS SAID THAT IN SPITE OF THESE ENCOURAGING INDICATORS, THERE WERE CHALLENGES AHEAD AND MOST APPARENT OF ALL WAS THE RAPIDLY CHANGING NATURE OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

"WE ARE FACING STIFF COMPETITION FROM NEWLY INDUSTRIALISING ECONOMIES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION. THEY ARE MAINTAINING HIGH PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH RATES, AND ACHIEVING SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

'FURTHERMORE, OUR MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS ARE DEMANDING HIGHER STANDARDS OF QUALITY IN THE GOODS THEY IMPORT FROM US," HE SAID.

MR JACOBS SAID HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURERS SWIFTLY TO THESE CHALLENGES AND WITH MUCH SUCCESS.

WERE RESPONDING

AND MANAGEMENT AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR

"MANY HAVE INVESTED IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY PRODUCTS.

"OTHERS HAVE TRANSFERRED THEIR PROCESSES OUTSIDE HONG KONG, HE SAID.

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LABOUR-INTENSIVE

MANUFACTURING

UPGRADE

MR JACOBS SAID THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THE DECISION TO MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY INSTALLING ADVANCED EQUIPMENT WAS DIFFICULT ONE AND THE INITIAL COSTS MIGHT BE DAUNTING.

A

A

"BUT IN THE LONG RUN, AN INVESTMENT OF THIS NATURE SHOULD GENERATE BETTER RETURN WITH THE PRODUCTION OF HIGHER QUALITY AND HIGHER-VALUE-ADDED GOODS AT LOWER LABOUR COST, HE SAID.

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GROUP EFFORT CALLED FOR IN TREE PLANTING

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LEE,

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON ALL COMMUNITY GROUPS IN HONG KONG FOR THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN BUILDING A BETTER COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT BY TAKING PART IN THE COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME DUE TO START LATER THIS MONTH.

DR LEE SAID: "WE TREASURE THE SUPPORT OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY BUT WE VALUE GROUP PARTICIPATION EVEN MORE.

"APART FROM THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF GROUP MEMBERS WHICH ENABLE US TO ACHIEVE A BETTER RESULT, GROUP PARTICIPATION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE GOOD HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY

SERVICE."

/DR LEE