XN000022-1990-02-06 — Page 8

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990

MEASURES TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY

IS

THE BRAIN DRAIN IS UNDOUBTEDLY A WORRY BUT THE GOVERNMENT TAKING MEASURES BOTH TO MEET THE GAP LEFT BY THOSE LEAVING AND ΤΟ MAKE HONG KONG AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN.

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE BUSINESS INFORMATION DAY 1990 ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

SHE WAS ASKED BY THE

SUBJECT OF BRAIN DRAIN.

ORGANISING

COMMITTEE ΤΟ FOCUS ON THE

FF

ரங் IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN A SENSE OF PROPORTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOT ALLOW FEAR TO TRANSLATE INTO FLIGHT, SHE SAID.

"WHATEVER THE CURRENT UNCERTAINTIES, HONG KONG REMAINS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.

"WITH OUR STRATEGIC LOCATION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION AND A3 THE GATEWAY TO CHINA, AND GIVEN OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE ENTIRE REGION, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED ΤΟ CONTINUE OUR SUCCESS STORY, EVEN IF THE POLITICAL SCENE IS TO CHANGE AFTER 1997, SHE SAID.

**

POINTING OUT THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF RESTRICTING THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO MEANS OF CONTROLLING THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES OF OTHER COUNTRIES, MRS CHAN SAID IT MUST THEREFORE PUT EMPHASIS ON ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY.

TO

TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO MAINTAIN THOSE ASPECTS OF HONG KONG LIFE WHICH WERE MOST ATTRACTIVE; CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS KEEP HONG KONG A VIBRANT CITY SUCH AS THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS; ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH; AND FURTHER IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THOSE AREAS WHERE IT HAD DONE PERHAPS LESS WELL IN THE PAST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENVIRONMENT, SHE SAID.

"FOR THE LONG TERM, THE BEST WAY TO MAKE GOOD ANY SHORTFALLS IS TO TRAIN UP OUR OWN YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS REQUIRED TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO PROSPER, SHR SAID.

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SHE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR, IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS DELIVERED LAST OCTOBER, HAD SPELLT OUT PLANS TO BOOST THE OUTPUT OF THE VARIOUS EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING OR EVEN ENHANCING STANDARDS.

/"SPECIFICALLY, WE