HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-2nd October 1969.
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market. Therefore, these factories will remain in Hong Kong only for as long as the conditions and environment here are comparable to, or better than, those in other competing countries such as Singapore, Tai- wan and South Korea. I, therefore, believe that another prime respon- sibility of our Government is to ensure that conditions and environment in Hong Kong remain attractive to industrial investors, particularly those who can provide technology and markets.
In order to ensure that Hong Kong continues to provide a favoura- ble industrial environment in comparison with other competing terri- tories, we must regularly examine our industrial land policy, industrial training policy, technical education facilities, industrial infra-structure, manpower development and other relevant industrial matters not in- dividually in isolation but together in their totality. I know my honourable Friend, the Financial Secretary, is a firm believer in laissez faire, which, I realize, has stood us in good stead in the past. As far as physical projects are concerned, however, we are already engaged in certain basic long-range planning such as our water resources, in- dustrial estates, mass transport, etc. In an increasingly industralized community like Hong Kong it is desirable to have more basic industrial planning, if we are to aim at maximum utilization of our limited resources. I feel that it is time, therefore, for the re-organization of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board, firstly, by splitting the board into two separate bodies for trade and industry respectively, secondly, by having wider representation both from within and outside of Govern- ment and, thirdly, by having some authority in the formulation of policies. Over the past decade Hong Kong has come a long way. The complications of international trade and the sophistications of manufac- turing industry warrant separate consideration by and from each other. In so far as industry is concerned, the Industrial Development Board, as it might be called, should preferably be chaired by the Honourable Colonial Secretary or the Honourable Financial Secretary with members comprising heads of relevant Government departments and representa- tives of industry as well as professionals and academics. I hope that Government will give this matter the serious consideration that it deserves.
Finally, I wish to comment briefly on labour matters. There is no doubt that Hong Kong has had remarkably fast progress in its indus- trialization. It has taken up 15 years to achieve what other nations have probably required 50 years to do. It is, therefore, understandable that the general public is rather inexperienced in and easily disturbed by industrial disputes and grievances. The Vanda, the Goodman and more recently the Fairwear cases are not more than labour grievances and are not true industrial disputes which, in Hong Kong, fortunately are comparatively rare in number and small in magnitude by any standards. Nevertheless, these few cases of non-payment of wages do
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