XN000022-1990-07-04 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990

LABOUR PLAN IS FOR LONG-TERM GOOD

EMPLOYERS SUPPORT THE IMPORTATION OF LABOUR NOT FOR SHORT-TERM EFFECT BUT FOR THE LONG-TERM GOOD OF THE ECONOMY, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

NOTING THAT EMPLOYERS GENERALLY HAD A WIDE CHOICE OF MEANS ΤΟ CARRY OUT THEIR INVESTMENT PLANS, MR CHEONG ASKED WHY THEY SHOULD RUN THE RISK OF BEING LABELLED UNFAIRLY AND PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO PRESENTING THE MACRO ECONOMIC PICTURE IF THEY DID NOT GENUINELY WISH TO SEE HONG KONG DO WELL.

MR

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE IMPORTATION OF LABOUR, CHEONG SAID HONG KONG NEEDED ALL SECTORS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS COOLLY, CALMLY, RATIONALLY AND IN A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL ATMOSPHERE.

"RADICAL ACTIONS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO LONG-TERM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. I WOULD PLEAD THAT LEADERS OF ALL SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BEAR THIS IN MIND IF THEY REALLY WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

MR CHEONG SUGGESTED THE IMPORTED LABOUR ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED NOT ONLY FROM THE SHORT-TERM NEGATIVE ANGLE BUT OVER A WIDER AND LONGER TERM PERSPECTIVE.

HE SAID THE SHORTAGE OF LABOUR WAS EVIDENT IN GENERAL AMONG ALL SECTORS, AND THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE UNLIKELY ΤΟ ACHIEVE THE AVERAGE GROWTH OF 5.5 PER CENT IN GNP AS PREDICTED FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS UNLESS SUFFICIENT HUMAN RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE.

SHOULD HONG KONG FAIL ΤΟ ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, INVESTMENTS BE LIMITED AND PATCHY, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID.

WOULD

"SUCH A SITUATION WILL LEAD TO VERY QUICK AND SHARP WAGE LEVEL DECLINES WHENEVER HONG KONG IS HIT BY ECONOMIC RECESSION, HE SAID.

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MR CHEONG NOTED THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF COUNTRIES SUCH AS WEST GERMANY AND SINGAPORE HELPED TO ILLUSTRATE THAT IMPORTATION OF LABOUR WOULD HELP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

HE SAID HONG KONG WAS IN THE COURSE OF UPGRADING THE SKILLS OF ITS WORKFORCE. FEWER PEOPLE WISHED TO TAKE UP MENIAL JOBS, AND IMPORTATION WOULD BE THE SOLUTION.

THIS WOULD ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TO BE BETTER TRAINED SO AS TO EARN MORE AND TO DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

HONG KONG WORKERS PARTICIPATE

IN THE

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