XN000022-1994-02-24 — Page 21

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1994

20

EDUCATION KEEPS HK ON LEADING EDGE

THE

IT IS BY EDUCATION, BOTH ACADEMIC AND IN TECHNICAL, ARTISTIC, MANAGERIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, THAT HONG KONG CAN BE KEPT ON LEADING EDGE OF THE RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 4TH EDUCATION CAREERS EXPO AND BRITISH EDUCATION EXHIBITION '94, MR PATTEN SAID MEN AND WOMEN OF HONG KONG HAD ALWAYS BEEN EAGER FOR OPPORTUNITY IMPROVE THEIR OWN EDUCATION AND THAT OF THEIR CHILDREN.

HON

AND

THE

TO

"HONG KONG STUDENTS HAVE ACQUIRED A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION FOR HARDWORK, FOR DETERMINATION AND FOR RESOURCEFULNESS, HE SAID.

**

OVER 20 PER CENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE GOES ON EDUCATION, TECHNICAL TRAINING, SKILLS UPGRADING

AND RETRAINING.

THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE VALUE OF THIS INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE HAD BEEN SHOWN DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

THE TERRITORY'S MANUFACTURING SECTOR HAS LOST A HUGE NUMBER OF ASSEMBLY JOBS AS THESE MOVED INTO SOUTH CHINA. BUT AT NO TIME WAS THERE SERIOUS UNEMPLOYMENT.

"THANKS TO OUR WELL EDUCATED AND ADAPTABLE PEOPLE, A HUGE RANGE OF NEW JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED.

"THE ADVANCED SKILLS THAT HONG KONG'S PEOPLE POSSESS IN MANAGEMENT, IN DESIGN, IN MARKETING AND IN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY HAVE MADE THIS A REGIONAL CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

"FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT SERVICES INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND RAPIDLY TO SUPPORT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT," HE ADDED.

AND

THE EXHIBITION LINES UP MORE THAN 200 OF HONG KONG'S EDUCATION TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, TRADING AND MANUFACTURING FIRMS, PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND SERVICE COMPANIES AS WELL AS NEARLY 200 BRITISH EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATIONS.

J

/21