XN000022-1989-10-05 — Page 5

4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1989

"THE NUMBER OF FIRST DEGREE GRADUATES FROM OUR TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS SET TO INCREASE FROM 3.600 CURRENTLY TO AROUND 10,000 BY THE MID-1990'S. IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE INCREASES IN OUTPUT AT THE SUB-PROFESSIONAL STREAMS," SHE SAID.

IN THE MEDIUM TERM. MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT BY THE EARLY 1990'S, THOSE WHO EMIGRATED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO COME BACK HAVING OBTAINED THEIR PASSPORTS.

"WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE ADEQUATELY BRIEFED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN HONG

KONG, INCLUDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT THERE ARE ADEQUATE FACILITIES IN HONG KONG TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO RETURN," SHE SAID, QUOTING EDUCATION FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN AS AN EXAMPLE.

"IN THE SHORT TERM, IF PARTICULAR SHORTAGES OF SKILLA EMERGE, WE ARE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE IN ALLOWING IMMIGRATION OF PERSONNEL TO FILL THE GAPS LEFT BY EMIGRATION, SHE SAID.

"IN THE COMING MONTHS WE HAVE SOME DIFFICULT PROBLEMS TO GRAPPLE WITH. NOTWITHSTANDING THESE DIFFICULTIES AND THE POLITICAL UNCERTAINTIES FACING HONG KONG, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD ΤΟ CONTINUING, IF MORE MODEST, ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE COMING DECADE, SHE SAID.

T

"OUR OPTIMISM IS FOUNDED NOT ON BLIND FAITH BUT ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND ECONOMY, SUPPORTED BY CONTINUITY IN GOVE NMENT POLICIES THAT RELY ON THE OPERATION OF THE FREE MARKET TO ALLO ATE RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY.

"WE TRADE WITH ALL AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST

NONE, WHETHER IT

IS IN INVE: TMENTS OR IN THE SALE OF GOODS AND SERVICES," SHE SAID.

THE JOINT DECLARATION PROMISED THE POST-1997 HONG KONG AUTONOMY IN OUR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL THE FREED MS THAT WE CURRENTLY ENJOYED, SHE SAID.

"DESPITE THE TIANANMEN EVENTS THERE IS NO REASON ΤΟ THROW IN THE TOWEL NOW. ON THE CONTRARY, WE MUST REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS ΤΟ ENSURE THAT HOLG KONG REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR PEOPLE ΤΟ WORK AND LIVE IN." SHE SAID.

FREE TRADE ENVIRONMENT NECESSARY FOR EXPORT OF SERVICES

THE GROWTH POTENTIAL FOR HONG KONG'S EXPORTS OF ENORMOUS, BUT THIS POTENTIAL CANNOT BE REALISED UNLESS MULTILATERAL INSTRUMENT THAT COULD CREATE AND SUSTAIN A ENVIRONMENT FOR SERVICES.

SERVICES IS THERE

IS A FREE TRADE

SAID

THIS TODAY

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, AT THE CLOSING OF THE HONG KONG SEMINAR ON TRADE IN SERVICES I THURSDAY).

THE SEMINAR