XN000022-1989-04-26 — Page 5

3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1989

TECHNOLOGY IS ANSWER TO LABOUR SHORTAGE: MARIA TAM

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON SUGGESTED USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AS PROBLEM OF LABOUR SHORTAGE.

SPEAKING IN THE BUDGET DEBATE,

MARIA TAM TODAY (WEDNESDAY} ONE OF THE ANSWERS то THE

MISS TAM SAID: "WE SHOULD

EXPLORE POTENIAL FOR OFFSHORE WORK THAT MIGHT BE CARRIED OUT BY HONG KONG COMPANIES TO OVERCOME LABOUR SHORTAGE."

SHE SAID SHE HAD SOUGHT ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON TIE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITIES OF SUCH A DEVELOPMENT AND THAT SHE WAS CONVINCED THAT SOME SERVICES MIGHT BB DONE "OFF-SHORE" BY TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN SAY, SHENZHEN.

SUCH SERVICES INCLUDED:

*

*

TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE, SUCH AS DIRECTORY ENQUIRY AND TRAVEL INFORMATION.

DATA ENTRY. HARD COPY CAN BE SENT OFFSHORE FOR OPERATORS TO KEY THE DATA ONTO MAGNETIC TAPE OR DIRECTLY ONTO A TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINK TO THE REQUIRED COMPUTER.

TYPESETTING OPERATORS FOR VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS. THE WRITER'S MATERIAL OR DATA CAN BE TRANSMITTED BY FAX AND TYPESETTING ARRANGED OFFSHORE.

BACK OFFICE OPERATIONS. ALMOST ANY OFFICE ACTIVITY WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE CUSTOMER CAN BE REMOTELY LOCATED, WITH TELECOMMUNICATION LINKS PROVIDING VOICE, FAX, DATA AND EVEN VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS DETWEEN THE MAIN OFFICE AND THE BACK OFFICE, AND

TYPING POOL. A TYPING POOL CAN BE REMOTELY LOCATED, WITH FAX AND HANDSFREE VOICE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TYPISTS AND MANAGERS.

MISS TAM SAID: "NO DOUBT THAT LEAD TIME IS REQUIRED TO TRAIN THE STAFF OFFSHORE.

"BUT IN THE LONG RUN, IT CAN BECOME AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE SUPERVISED BY A MINIMUM OF STAFF FROM HONG KONG.'

"

MISS TAM ALSO CALLED FOR THE IMPORTATION OF LABOUR AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE IN COPING WITH THE PROBLEM.

I

'BASICALLY I AM NOT IN FAVOUR OF CONTRACT LABOUR AND IT MUST BE RESTRICTED TO 'SKILLED PERSONS ONLY.

"THERE ALSO NEED TO BE RESTRICTIONS ON CONDITIONS OF WITH NO EXTRA BURDEN ON TRANSPORT, HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE PUBLIC SERVICES.

STAY

AND

OR

OTHER

"THE EMPLOYERS