XN000022-1989-07-25 — Page 13

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TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1989

H

WILL BE

IN 1989-90 OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUB-COMMITTEE LOOKING AT THE 'IT' MANPOWER SHORTAGE IN HONG KONG AND. MORE WIDELY, AT THE 'IT' ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE," HE SAID.

PROFESSOR POON SAID THE SECOND MAJOR AREA THE COMMITTEE WAS STUDYING WAS THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN HONG KONG, WHICH WAS AN AREA OF GROWING INTEREST WORLDWIDE.

"WE HAVE PRODUCED A REPORT FOR GOVERNMENT MAPPING OUT THE BROAD OPPORTUNITIES. BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDS FOR HONG KONG.

WE TO USE A DONATION FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB TO CARRY OUT AN CONSULTANCY STUDY," HE SAID.

NOW PLAN IN-DEPTH

PROFESSOR POON SAID THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO LOOKING AT SOME IMMEDIATE CONCERNS.

"WE SET UP A WORKING GROUP TO SURVEY THE USE OF LASERS IN HONG KONG AND TO RECOMMEND HOW TO ENSURE PROPER SAFETY, AND HAVE SUBMITTED A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT.

"WE ARE ALSO FUNDING A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF USING DNA PROFILING TECHNOLOGY

WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED IN FORENSIC WORK OVERSEAS IN HONG KONG.

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PROFESSOR POON SAID THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO VERY CONSCIOUS THE NEED TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF HONG KONG IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

OF

"FOR THAT REASON. WE ARE EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF STAGING AN INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE FAIR IN THE EARLY 1990'S WITH THE AIM OF ESTABLISHING HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE. HE SAID,

"I

PROFESSOR POON SAID THE RAPID PACE OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE MEANT THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO KEEP LOOKING AHEAD AND IDENTIFYING NEW IDEAS WHICH COULD BENEFIT HONG KONG.

"THAT IS THE TASK THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WAS SET UP TO DO. IT IS A CHALLENGING ONE. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COVERS AN IMMENSELY WIDE AND COMPLEX FIELD.

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"DEVELOPMENT INVOLVES RISK AND UNCERTAINTY, MUCH OF THE GROUND IS NEW FOR HONG KONG. AND WE MUST BE SURE THAT IT IS FIRM. POON SAID.

PROFESSOR

HE SAID THE COMMITTEE'S ADVICE то THE GOVERNMENT MUST THEREFORE NOT ONLY COVER THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF MOVING FORWARD IN A PARTICULAR AREA OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. BUT ALSO ADDRESS THE IMPLICATIONS FOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE. FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

"WE MUST IDENTIFY SPECIFIC COURSES OF THEIR COSTS AND BENEFITS.

ACTION. AND WEIGH UF

"THAT MEANS