XN000022-1993-03-10 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1993

13

RELOCATION OF COMPANIES DOES NOT AFFECT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

THE

KONG

FACTORIES

GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE RELOCATION OUTSIDE HONG OF THE NON-PRODUCTION DEPARTMENTS OF HONG KONG COMPANIES OR WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR TH CHAU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

SAID

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK, MR CHAU RELOCATION OF SOME LABOUR-INTENSIVE NON-PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES MIGHT HELP TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S COMPETITIVENESS.

THROUGH A LIMITED EASING OF THE CONSTRAINT ENGENDERED SHORT SUPPLY OF LOCAL LABOUR, IT MIGHT ALSO HELP HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT, MR CHAU SAID.

BY THE ECONOMIC

THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT CONSIDER THAT THE LOCAL LABOUR MARKET WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SUCH RELOCATION. HONG KONG'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS VERY LOW BY WORLD STANDARDS.

"THERE IS STEADY GROWTH IN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SERVICES SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY AND THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE VACANCIES IN MANY SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, HE SAID.

·

THUS, THE GOVERNMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IS CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF HONG KONG LABOUR FORCE THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES SO AS TO SOLVE AT LEAST PARTIALLY THE PROBLEM OF SHORTAGE OF LABOUR, HE ADDED.

-

MASS

RAIL COMPANIES COMMITTED TO LOCALISATION POLICY

TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION ARE COMMITTED IN PRINCIPLE TO A POLICY OF LOCALISATION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

LOCAL

TO

THE

EXPATRIATE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT FORCED TO MAKE WAY FOR SUCCESSORS, BUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THE CORPORATIONS, EFFORTS ARE MADE REPLACE THEM WITH LOCAL EMPLOYEES, SUBJECT TO THE LATTER NECESSARY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE, HE SAID,

HAVING

CORPORATIONS

OF

INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES ARE IN PLACE IN BOTH TO INCREASE THE PACE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL EMPLOYEES AS PART THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION PLANNING, SIR DAVID ADDED.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON SAMUEL WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT STATUTORY BODIES ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS WERE EMPOWERED TO APPOINT THEIR OWN STAFF AND DETERMINE

EMPLOYMENT POLICY.

THEIR OWN

/SIR DAVID