XN000022-1989-10-02 — Page 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1989

NOTHING TO

BEEN MARKET AND

HE SAID HONG KONG'S MAIN PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT HAD DO WITH THE ECONOMY EVEN THOUGH THE TERRITORY HAD TO SOME EXTENT SUFFERING FROM OVER RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH, A TIGHT LABOUR A HIGH RATE OF INFLATION.

THE FUTURE.

THIS IS

·

SOMETHING THAT

HE SAID,

HONG

NOT "IT IS A FEAR FOR STARTED ON JUNE 4. IT HAS BEEN WITH US FOR LONGER THAN THAT, ADDING THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN PEKING IN JUNE BROUGHT THE FEARS OF KONG PEOPLE FIRMLY INTO FOCUS.

TRANSLATES

WHEN FEAR "THE WORST OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT

RISK THE

THAT OUR FLIGHT, WE RUN

BEST AND BRIGHTEST WILL SECURITY OUTSIDE HONG KONG, THE SO CALLED 'BRAIN DRAIN'.

INTO

SEEK

THAT

THERE WHILE IT WAS FUNDAMENTAL TO HONG KONG'S PHILOSOPHY

THE POPULATION OF HONG SHOULD BE COMPLETE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOR

SORT OF KONG. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO DO WAS TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT

THEM ΤΟ ENVIRONMENT TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO STAY OR EVEN TO RETURN, HE SAID.

ENCOURAGE

PEOPLE

"MEETING THE

DEMAND FOR

SKILLED

ΤΟ

FOR PERSONNEL, REST IS

ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH REPLACE THOSE LOST IN THE BRAIN DRAIN OUR INCREASING EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN HONG KONG.

WE EXTENT

ARE ABLE

"TO A LESSER IMMIGRATION RULES. FOR THE MOMENT WE HAVE SET WHOI ESALE IMPORTATION OF UNSKILLED LABOUR, BUT WE

IN

OF OUR INTERPRETATION BE REASONABLY LIBERAL EMPLOYERS CAN BRING INTO HONG KONG PERSONNEL WHO DO TO CONTRIBUTE SO AS TO MEET ANY LOCAL SHORTAGE,

OF OUR TO RELAX SOME

OUR FACE AGAINST THE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SKILLS 50 THAT HAVE SOME SKILL HE POINTED OUT.

THE

KONG

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE DID NOT WANT TO UNDERSTATE PROBLEM BUT HE DID NOT CONSIDER THAT POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN HONG SHOULD BE .RIGHTENED OFF BY THE BRAIN DRAIN.

"IT CAN BE COPED WITH PEOPLE ATE DOING. HE SAID.

THROUGH MANAGEMENT AND THAT

18

WHAT

THAT "MANY WHO LEAVE HONG KONG TODAY ARE MOTIVATED BY THE FRAR

NOT ITS PROMISE

TO INTERFERE WITH THE CHIA WILL NOT LIVE UP TO RUNNING OF HOT RONG'S OPEN, CAPITALIST SOCIETY AFTER 1997.

AUT EVERYTHING

PRESERVE

T

THERE ARE, OF COURSE, NO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEES.

DONE BOTH TO DEFINE AND THAT CAN BE DONE IS BEING KONG'S SEPARATE IDENTITY WITHIN CHINA AFTER 1997, AND CONTINUITY OF ITS POLICIES AND ITS WAY OF LIFE THROUGH DATE, HE SAID.

||

HONG ΤΟ ENSURE THE THAT HISTORIC

TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN HONG KONG. 12 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE WERE EMPLOYED FACTORIES WHOLLY OR PARTLY OWNED BY FOREIGN INTERESTS.

HE SAID IN 600

EMPLOYING INVESTOR, "THE UNITED STATES IS THE BIGGEST WORKERS IN 160-ODD FACTORIES. THAT REPRESENTS INVESTMENT OF SOME BILLION IN ALL, OR OVER A THIRD OF THE TOTAL.

36.000

US $1

/"AFTER THE