XN000022-1992-01-29 — Page 17

- 15

COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE URGED

* *

KONG HAD HONG

IN PLACE THE MAKINGS

RESEARCH OF A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TO MAKE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WORK, THE INSTITUTIONS

HIGHER LEARNING AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR MUST COLLABORATE WITH

OF

OTHER.

EACH

THE MESSAGE CAME FROM THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER + DEBATE IN MR JOHN CHAN, YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE ADJOURNMENT

FOR SUPPORT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON

DEVELOPMENT.

GOVERNMENT

RESEARCH

AND

MR CHAN FOCUSSED ON GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH WHILE THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR STUART HARBINSON SPOKE ON CONTRACT RESEARCH.

THEY

OFTEN OTHER.

BOTH

RESEARCH RECOGNISED THAT THE TWO TYPES OF COMPLEMENTARY AND EACH COULD HAVE BENEFICIAL SPIN-OFFS FOR

WE

ARE

THE

"HOW TO PROMOTE AND MAXIMISE THIS COMPLEMENTARITY IS AN THAT DESERVES THE ATTENTION OF ALL CONCERNED," MR CHAN SAID.

ISSUE

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CHALLENGE TO THE GOVERNMENT WAS TO IN WHICH FACILITATE THE CREATION OF A SUITABLE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT SUFFICIENT

BE FACILITIES

CREATIVELY EXPERTISE,

AND FUNDING COULD COMBINED IN THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE FOR ITS OWN SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF HONG KONG; AND A SUITABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE WIDER APPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

TO THE

THIS

IS AMIDST

COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE

ACQUISITION

AND

TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE.

HE STRESSED THAT HIS PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH CAPABILITY FOR HONG KONG.

HE

A BASIC

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

ATTRACT

то MEET AND AND

SAID THE BULK OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR HAD SO FAR BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS THEIR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS BY PROVIDING IMPROVED RESEARCH FACILITIES A

SPECTRUM OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES WHICH HELPED RETAIN GOOD QUALITY ACADEMIC STAFF.

FUNDING "SPECIFIC GOVERNMENT

FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH IS RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON," MR CHAN SAID.

A

FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC) RESEARCH WORKING PARTY IN 1983, THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO PROVIDE FOR THE 1988-91 TRIENNIUM A SUM OF $120 MILLION RESEARCH.

FOR

THIS FIGURE WAS AT THE TIME EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY TWO PER CENT OF THE BLOCK GRANT EXPENDITURE FOR THE TRIENNIUM.

/IN ADDITION