Sir,
(Revised)
Speech by the Hon. W. Dorward, OBE, JP, Acting Director of Commerce and Industry, at the Adjournment Debate in the Legislative Council on 27 July 1977
134
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I think this debate is timely. Frequent and
fragmented press reports have recently built up a confused
but worrying image of the prospects for our major industry
and, while there is little to be sanguine about in what has
been said here today, I believe it to be helpful to examine
the situation in its totality. Perhaps we can clear away
some of the misconceptions and allay some concern.
My honourable friend Mr. Tien has given a concise.
picture of the current state of the domestic textile industry
and there is little I can add. No one could describe the
situation as satisfactory and there are two points I would
like to make in relation to it.
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First, and most important, at a time when
protectionist voices are being loudly heard around the
developed countries, it is salutory to remind all concerned
that structural and employment problems are not peculiar to
those countries; and that, furthermore, the social consequences
of those problems are much more acutely felt by the relatively
poor than by the relatively rich.
Secondly, I would note that while the Hong Kong
industry has undoubtedly suffered as a result of protectionist
actions, the main problems this year have been the consequences
of slack demand in such major markets as the United States,
the United Kingdom and Germany. It is only in a very few
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