XN000022-1995-06-28 — Page 46

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Secondly, we do understand that some of the factors contributing to people's decision to emigrate is their anxieties about the future. The best answer to their worries is the full and faithful implementation of the provisions of the Sino- British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong. We have in the past years devoted a great deal of effort to that end. We have had some successes in our endeavours, e.g. the Defence Land agreement in 1994 and the Court of Final Appeal agreement this year. Nevertheless, we recognise that a great deal more work needs to be done, and we shall continue to do our best in this regard.

Thirdly, in response to the specific emigration pressures in the late-1980's, we have instituted the British Nationality Selection Scheme, which has as its primary objective the anchoring of well-qualified personnel in Hong Kong at the prime of their career. The Scheme is designed to enable up to 50,000 qualified families to obtain British Citizenship without leaving the territory. Progress in implementing the Scheme is good: so far, 43,400 heads of families, together with their dependants, have been registered as British citizens under the Scheme. Many of the 43,400 principal beneficiaries are well-educated, including professionals, and in the prime of their career.

Fourthly, we seek to replenish our supply of highly educated and trained people whom we lose through emigration. We have, for example, increased the number of first year, first degree (FYFD) places substantially in the past few years, from 7,426 places (or 8.64% of the relevant age group) in 1988/89 to no less than 14,500 places (or 18% of the relevant age group) in 1994/95. As a result of this expansion of tertiary education, the number of workers with degree or above qualifications is projected to increase from 173,000 in 1991 to 235,400 in 1996, and further to 320.800 in the year 2001. This represents a growth of 6.4% a year during this 10 year period, by the end of which we should be able to match supply with demand.

We have also been providing a comprehensive system of technical education and vocational training through the 2 Technical Colleges, 7 Technical Institutes and 18 Industrial Training Centres of the Vocational Training Council. Together, 43,100 full-time and 66,600 part-time training places will be provided in 1995/96. As a result of these training facilities, the number of workers with sub-degree qualification are expected to increase from 106,800 in 1991 to 143,200 in 1996, and further to 180,200 in 2001. The manpower supply at technician and craft levels is projected to increase from 59.100 in 1991 to 113,500 in 2001.

End/Wednesday, June 28, 1995