XN000022-1989-04-27 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1989

PROFESSOR POON, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, REGRETTED THAT ONE YEAR AFTER THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN SET UP, AND DISPITE REPEATED PLEAS, THERE WAS STILL NO PROVISION FOR AN ANNUAL BUDGET WITHIN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES WITH WHICH THE COMMITTEE COULD PLAN ITS ACTIVITIES OR LAUNCH PROJECTS LIKE EXHIBITIONS, CONFERENCES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES.

"IN THE FACE OF THE BUDGETARY SURPLUS, THERE IS REALLY NO EXCUSE ANYMORE TO DELAY FUNDING IN THIS IMPORTANT AREA OF INVESTING IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S INTENTION ΤΟ EARMARK SOME OF THE ACCUMULATING SURPLUSES TO FINANCE VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS, PROFESSOR POON ARGUED THAT THE NEED FOR ENABLING INDUSTRIES TO GO HIGH-TECH, ΤΟ PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND, TECHNOLOGY AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WAS JUST AS ACUTE.

"IF THE GOVERNMENT TAKES ONLY A MYOPIC VIEW OF IMMEDIATE URGENCIES, WE WILL LOSE OUT IN THE LONG RUN AND BE OVERTAKEN BY THE OTHER NEWLY INDUSTRIALISED ECONOMIES IN THE ASIAN REGION," HE SAID.

"AND ONCE THE COMPETITIVE EDGE IN OUR INDUSTRIES IS HEAVY INVESTMENTS MADE IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS UP, AS IT WERE, WATER DOWN THE DRAIN, HE WARNED.

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GONE, THE COULD END

SHARING SENIOR LEGCO MEMBER THE HON ALLEN LEE'S VIEW THAT PROVISION FOR EXPENDITURE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE BUDGET SPEECH AND THE DRAFT ESTIMATES WAS FRAGMENTED TO A RIDICULOUS DEGREE, PROFESSOR POON RECOMMENDED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SHOULD PROPERLY IDENTIFY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS AN EXPENDITURE PROGRAMME AREA AND RATIONALISE THE VARIOUS BITS OF EXPENDITURE ON THIS SUBJECT CURRENTLY PROVIDED WITHIN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL HEADS.

TO SUSTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF IDEAS AND WORK OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY TO COPE WITH EVER-INCREASING WORK ARISING FROM THE COMMITTEE.

IN ADDITION, HE PRESSED FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FUNDING ΤΟ THE MEAGRE $3 MILLION SO FAR ALLOCATED FOR CONSULTANCY STUDIES AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND FINANCING OF THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE FAIR WHICH WOULD AIM TO MATCHMAKE COMPANIES POSSESSING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND CORPORATE TECHNOLOGY BUYERS.

ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, PROFESSOR POON FELT THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASE OF CAPITAL ALLOWANCE FROM 55 PER CENT то 60 PER CENT WAS NOT REALLY SUFFICIENT.

IN

NOTING THAT 97 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WERE SMALL FACTORIES AND MANY OF THEM WERE TIGHTLY PACKED TOGETHER MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BUILDINGS, HE SAID THESE SMALL INDUSTRIAL OPERATORS NEEDED ASSISTANCE IN THEIR BATTLE TO MINIMISE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTIONS.

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