XN000022-1991-03-18 — Page 3

2

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1991

"BOTH EMPLOYERS AND LABOUR HAVE LEARNED TO RESPOND AND ADJUST SWIFTLY TO CHANGES IN EXTERNAL DEMAND AND TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY NEW SKILLS AND KNOW-HOW PROMPTLY, IN ORDER ΤΟ MAINTAIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF THEIR PRODUCTS, 中申 HE SAID.

MR BARMA SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT BUSINESSMEN, NOT BUREAUCRATS, WERE THE BEST PEOPLE ΤΟ TAKE BUSINESS DECISIONS.

"THE GOVERNMENT'S PRINCIPAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMY IS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND A STABLE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CAN FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH A MINIMUM OF RED TAPE.

"

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER AN INVESTOR IS LOCAL OR FROM OVERSEAS; THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, AND THERE 13 NO REQUIREMENT FOR LOCAL PARTICIPATION OR EXPORT ORIENTATION IN PROJECTS, HE SAID.

STUDY ON EEC SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME COMMISSIONED

THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (HKTDC) TODAY (MONDAY) AWARDED A $1 MILLION CONTRACT TO PRICE WATERHOUSE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON THE SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY (EEC).

THE SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME IS AN INTERNAL PROGRAMME WITHIN THE EEC WHICH AIMS TO ACHIEVE THE FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS, CAPITAL, PEOPLE AND SERVICES AMONG ITS MEMBER STATES BY THE END OF 1992.

THE

EXPLAINING THE NEED FOR THE CONSULTANCY, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR ALAN N. LAI, SAID INFORMATION ABOUT SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME WAS SO MASSIVE AND DIVERSE THAT IT HAD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN BRUSSELS, WITH THEIR LIMITED RESOURCES, TO FOLLOW DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY.

"IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO EMPLOY THE SERVICES OF A PRIVATE CONSULTANCY FIRM WITH RELEVANT EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO HONG KONG SO THAT WE WILL NOT LOSE TRACK OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME, HE SAID.

THE HKTDC HAS ALSO FOUND THAT ET NEEDS TO KEEP PACE WITH DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PROGRAMME IN ORDER TO ADVISE LOCAL TRADERS ΤΟ PREPARE FOR A SINGLE MARKET IN EUROPE IN 1992.

HAS

THE CHIEF ECONOMIST OF HKTDC, MRS ANNA LAI, SAID: "THE TDC REGULARLY RECEIVED ENQUIRIES FROM LOCAL TRADERS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME.

/"WE BELIEVE