XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 70

-

54

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

AS MADE CLEAR IN MY POLICY COMMITMENTS WE WILL ALSO BE PRESSING AHEAD WITH:

THE LICENSING OF THREE MORE OPERATORS TO PROVIDE LOCAL FIXED NETWORK SERVICES IN COMPETITION WITH THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY:

THE GRANTING OF MORE PUBLIC MOBILE TELEPHONE LICENCES;

THE INTRODUCTION OF PORTABLE AND PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS; AND

m

THE

LICENSING OF COMPANIES AND

OWN EXTERNAL CIRCUITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

THEIR

ORGANISATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR INTRA-CORPORATE

MR PRESIDENT, FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE INDUSTRIES: TOURISM AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO RESPOND TO CONCERNS RAISED BY MR HOWARD YOUNG THAT CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SITES FOR HOTEL USE MAY LEAD TO A SHORTAGE OF HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.

AS I SAID IN MY BRIEFING TO MEMBERS, THE GOVERNMENT FULLY RECOGNISES THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE TOURISM INDUSTRY MAKES TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION AND THE INBOUND TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S POSITION AS ASIA'S MOST POPULAR TRAVEL DESTINATION.

AS MR YOUNG WILL BE AWARE, THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION HAS COMMISSIONED A CONSULTANCY STUDY TO IDENTIFY A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR THE LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE CONSULTANTS ARE UNDERTAKING A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION SITUATION AND WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHETHER THEY CONSIDER THERE IS A NEED FOR ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS то ENSURE THAT FORECAST DEMAND IS MET. THE STUDY WILL ALSO REVIEW THE OVERALL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND LINKAGES BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION AND THE VARIOUS BRANCHES IN THE GOVERNMENT, RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALING WITH ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE INBOUND TRAVEL INDUSTRY. THE CONSULTANT'S REPORT IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BARLY NEXT YEAR AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE SUGGESTIONS

MADE.

MEMBERS MAY WISH TO NOTE ALSO THAT I INTEND ΤΟ BRIEF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES PANEL OF THIS COUNCIL ON THE SUBJECT OF TOURISM POLICY IN EARLY DECEMBER. THIS WILL PROVIDE ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET OUT, IN GREATER DETAIL, THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OBJECTIVES WITH RESPECT TO TOURISM AND ADDRESS ANY FURTHER COMMENTS WHICH MEMBERS HAVE ON THIS IMPORTANT AREA OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

MAY

/55

Page 70Page 71