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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 2nd October 1969.
[MR SALMON] Motion
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not far away, with the expected airport runway extension, and with the construction of the cross harbour tunnel, to say nothing of the navigational hazards of the narrow and busy Pass and fog at certain times of the year, it seems certain that more use will have to be made of the Western Approaches. One essential, however, is that there must be a 24 hours a day clearance for ships approaching from the west, and not up to 6 p.m. only as at present. I understand that the Immigration Department does not have sufficient staff to man both ends of the harbour on a 24-hour basis, and the quicker this difficulty is overcome the better. Shipowners, who I understand may soon have to pay increased port charges of up to 100% and more in some cases, with the object of making the port services of the Marine Department self- supporting, should surely only have to expect further additional costs because of delays caused by lack of Government facilities. I would in fact go further and say that it is highly desirable for ships to get health and immigration clearance at their berths, instead of having to anchor first with the attendant dangers and delay. Thus I hope the Immigra- tion and Port Health Departments, in conjunction with the Marine Department, will themselves consider how they should improve their present services, and be given what staff and launches they need for the quickest possible clearance of ships.
In your Address, Sir, you have drawn attention to our excellent export results; but one begins to wonder whether they are not a bit too good. Some months ago I heard the quite serious suggestion that with factory order books full to overflowing, and in a tight labour situa- tion, the Trade Development Council should take a six months holiday! The TDC has, of course, done a marvelous job, and must continue to do so. At the same time, it may be said that the continued high rate of growth of domestic exports has its dangers, if for no other reason than the general and severe pressure resulting from the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled labour in the factories. Such a pressure means that manufacturers bid against each other for manpower, wages go up, production costs go up, prices go up, and at some stage we must be in danger of losing our competitive edge, which is something we cannot afford to do.
While these problems are, I know, receiving urgent attention of Government and the various organizations concerned with industry and commerce, I have a further fear for our export trade in the future stem- ming from the apparent lack of progress in the provision of a container terminal. The first and very good report of the Container Committee came out in December 1966, nearly three years ago, and their second report in November 1967, nearly two years ago; and since then precious little seems to have been done to adopt the various recommendations and get the Kwai Chung scheme under way. I regret, Sir, that I cannot
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