XN000022-1989-11-01 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1989

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MR LI SAID EMIGRATION WAS DRAINING AWAY VALUABLE HUMAN RESOURCES. BUT ALSO SIGNIFICANT WAS HONG KONG'S OTHER BRAIN DRAIN" THE LOSS OF TALENT CAUSED BY AN OUTDATED, UNDER-FINANCED EDUCATION SYSTEM.

HE SAID IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS FINALLY TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT SIMPLY RAMMING MORE BODIES THROUGH THE SYSTEM WAS NOT THE ANSWER.

"THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SYSTEM ITSELF. WE NEED A SYSTEM WHICH TEACHES STUDENTS TO THINK FROM PRIMARY ONE ONWARDS A SYSTEM WHICH CREATES INDIVIDUALS, NOT ROBOTS," HE SAID.

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MR LI BELIEVED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME SET POLICY SPEECH WAS A CREDIT TO THE CENTRAL POLICY UNIT.

OUT IN THE

THE PROGRAMME'S COMPLEXITY AND SCALE WOULD POSE A CHALLENGE то THE HONG KONG ECONOMY. THEREFORE, HE SAID, IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO SET UP SPECIALIST CENTRAL POLICY SUB-UNITS TO ADVISE ON KEY ISSUES, PARTICULARLY CAPITAL PROJECT CO-ORDINATION, FISCAL AND FINANCIAL POLICY, AND EDUCATION.

"THE FUTURE IS OURS FOR THE MAKING. WE SHARE THE VISION OF A STRONGER, MORE PROSPEROUS HONG KONG. TOGETHER LET US MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY," HE CONCLUDED.

CALL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

* * *

REPLACING THE

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WITH A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL, PROFESSOR THE HON C.K. POON SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL WOULD BE TO FORMULATE OVERALL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY, TO ADMINISTER PROGRAMMES AND TO OVERSEE THE ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN

RESEARCH GRANTS.

BUT IT SHOULD NOT ENCROACH ON THE FIELDS WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN COVERED BY THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND THE UNIVERSITY AND FOLYTECHNICS GRANTS COMMITTEE.

SPEAKING IN THE POLICY DEBATE, PROF POON CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG- TERM STRATEGY ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND SAID ITS IMPORTANCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN NEGLECTED.

-

A MERE

IT

IS

LUXURY -

OUR

"PROMOTING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS NO LONGER WHICH HONG KONG CAN DO WITHOUT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT LIFELINE FOR THE FUTURE, HE SAID.

/PROF POON