XN000022-1993-05-17 — Page 2

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MONDAY, MAY 17, 1993

GOVERNOR STRESSES COMMITMENT TO BUILDING FOR PUTURE

THE GOVERNMENT ALONG WITH BUSINESSMEN AND MANUFACTURERS MUST COMMIT THEMSELVES TO USING HONG KONG'S TALENTS AND TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE WORLD TRADE INVESTMENT CONFERENCE ON "HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND PROFITABILITY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY", MR PATTEN SAID THE CONFERENCE HAD THE RIGHT THEME IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

LOCAL BUSINESSMEN AND MANUFACTURERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED HOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE BEST OF THEIR OPPORTUNITIES, INVESTMENTS AND SKILLS HAVE KEPT THEM AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION.

"ONE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES RESTS ON HONG KONG'S ROLE AS GATEWAY TO CHINA, HE SAID.

MANY MANUFACTURERS HAVE MOVED THEIR FACTORIES INTO GUANGDONG WHERE LAND AND LABOUR ARE IN GOOD SUPPLY.

MEANWHILE, THEY HAVF COMMITTED THEMSELVES AT HOME TO THE NEW DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY THAT LEADS TO BETTER PRODUCTS, BETTER METHODS OF PRODUCTION AND BETTER USE OF RESOURCES.

"THEY ARE BUSY CLIMBING

THE RUNGS THAT FORM THE

TECHNOLOGICAL AND VALUE-ADDED LADDER, MR PATTEN SAID.

HE SAID GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO MAKE COMMITMENTS TOO, BUT OF A DIFFERENT SORT.

"OUR APPROACH IS ONE OF MINIMUM INTERFERENCE AND MAXIMUM SUPPORT. HE SAID.

TAXES ARE KEPT LOW AND PREDICTABLE; A GOOD, CLEAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS PROVIDED; AND INVESTMENTS ARE MADE IN HUMAN AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING ABOUT $24 BILLION FROM 1992/95 ON TERTIARY EDUCATION. NEARLY $250 MILLION IS PUT UP TO SET UP THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE.

ALSO,

THE GOVERNMENT IS INVESTING $200 MILLION TO PUMP-PRIME INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

"WE DELIVER THE FRAMEWORK AND WE LOOK TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR ΤΟ DELIVER THE PROFITABILITY AND THE GOODS," HE SAID.

TURNING ΤΟ THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, MR PATTEN SAID WHOLE-HEARTED PURSUIT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT CAN CARRY COSTS.

HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS VITAL NOW TO HARNESS TAK POWER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS.

/"WE MUST