XN000022-1990-03-29 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1990

MEETING NEW DEMANDS HAD PITTED EMPLOYER AGAINST EMPLOYER IN A BATTLE FOR SCARCE LABOUR RESOURCES, RESULTING IN HONG KONG'S EXTREMELY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES AND THE WAGE-LED INFLATION OF THE LAST THREE YEARS.

"HENCE ALSO OUR NEED TO PROCEED URGENTLY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SEA AND AIRPORT FACILITIES, AND ALL THE ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, HE SAID.

DESCRIBING THESE AS PROBLEMS OF ANY GROWING ECOMONY, SIR PIERS SAID: "LIKE ALL OF OUR PAST INTENSIVE INVESTMENT IN PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PROBLEMS NOW FACING US WILL CHALLENGE SKILLS AT BUDGETARY MANAGEMENT.

**BUT MANAGED THEY WILL BE, WITH OUR TRADITIONAL THESE MATTERS.

OUR

PRUDENCE IN

OUR PROBLEMS,

"WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASISE TO YOU TODAY IS THAT THE PROJECTS WE ARE UNDERTAKING, AND THE ECONOMIC GROWTH WHICH SUPPLIES THE MOMENTUM FOR THEM REPRESENT A HUGE RANGE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES," SIR PIERS SAID.

FSD SERVICES BACK TO NORMAL

* * *

·

ALL FROM 10.05 AM TODAY (THURSDAY)

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S CONTINGENCY PLAN HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT ARE BACK TO NORMAL.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. LAM CHEK-YUEN, SAID THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON.

MR LAM SAID THE CONTINGENCY PLAN HAD WORKED PERFECTLY WELL IN THE MAINTAINING RESCUE AND FIRE COVER THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY DURING PERIOD OF THE HUNGER STRIKE BY FIREMEN.

"I PARTICULARLY WISH то POINT OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN, WE WERE ABLE то KEEP THE ΚΑΙ TAK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OPEN AND FULLY OPERATIONAL THROUGHOUT.

DANGER,

I

"WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO RESPOND TO ALL FIRE AND SPECIAL SERVICE

TO CALLS WHERE LIVES AND PROPERTY WERE REPORTED

BE IN

HE

SAID.

MR LAM PAID A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICER CADRE ΤΟ THE AND A SMALL GROUP OF FIREMEN WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED IMMEASURABLY SUCCESS OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN.

/THROUGHOUT THE