XN000022-1990-02-06 — Page 9

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990

"SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE PLANNING TO

SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FIRST YEAR, FIRST DEGREE PLACES REQUIRED FOR THE YEAR 1994-5 FROM 13 PER CENT TO NO LESS THAN 18 PER CENT OF THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP, SHE SAID, DESCRIBING IT AS AN AMBITIOUS YET REALISTIC TARGET.

T

OF

OF

MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT QUITE APART FROM THE QUESTION EMIGRATION, THE EXPANSION WAS NECESSARY TO ENABLE MANY MORE YOUTHS HONG KONG TO RECEIVE SOME FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOCALLY AND TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR MANPOWER WITH HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS AS A RESULT OF HONG KONG'S CONTINUING SHIFT TOWARDS A MORE SOPHISTICATED AND SERVICE-ORIENTED ECONOMY.

"IN THE MEDIUM TERM WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RETURN FLOW OF FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS STARTING IN THE EARLY 1990'S, AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO FACILITATE THAT RETURN.

'ALREADY THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME BACK HERE TO LIVE AND WORK AFTER STUDYING OR LIVING ABROAD.

"BUT THE SURGE IN EMIGRATION DID NOT REALLY GET UNDERWAY UNTIL 1988. AND THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DESTINATION COUNTRIES MEAN THAT THOSE PEOPLE WILL NOT FOR THE MOST PART BE ELIGIBLE то RETURN UNTIL 1991 OR EVEN LATER.

"WE MUST ENSURE THAT POTENTIAL RETURNEES HAVE READY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON THE UP-TO-DATE SITUATION IN HONG

KONG, INCLUDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES," SHE SAID.

SHE NOTED HOWEVER THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST STRIKE A CAREFUL BALANCE. "IF WE WERE TO OFFER A SPECIAL BONUS FOR COMING BACK, WE WOULD IN EFFECT BE GRANTING A SPECIAL BONUS FOR LEAVING.

"THIS WOULD ONLY COMPOUND OUR PROBLEMS AND IN ADDITION IT WOULD BE TERRIBLY UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BUT CHOSE IINSTEAD TO STAY.

"THEREFORE, WE HAVE то FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON REMOVING DISINCENTIVES RATHER THAN CREATING A SPECIAL REWARD, SHE SAID.

IN THE SHORT TERM, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN ALLOWING IMMIGRATION OF HIGHLY SKILLED PERSONNEL TO FILL THE GAPS.

"EVERY APPLICATION BY EMPLOYERS TO BRING IN PROFESSIONALS AND MANAGERS IS BEING AND WILL BE EFFICIENTLY AND SYMPATHETICALLY

CONSIDERED ON ITS MERITS,

BUT

"THERE IS NO RESTRICTION ON NUMBERS OR SOURCES PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES MUST BE SUITABLY QUALIFIED AND THEIR EMPLOYERS MUST PAY THE GOING WAGES IN HONG KONG.

3,000 SKILLED

"THERE IS ALSO A SPECIAL SCHEME TO IMPORT ABOUT WORKERS AT THE TECHNICIAN, CRAFTSMAN AND SUPERVISORY LEVELS ΤΟ RELIEVE THE PRESSURE IN THOSE AREAS," SHE SAID.

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