TNAG-0735-FCO40-939-Policy-objective-for-the-developing-of-Hong-Kong-in-the-1980-1978 — Page 91

39.

The Advisory Committee on Diversification has established an Industrial Development Sub-Committee under Mr. James Wu's chairmanship to advise on "whether the extent of the Government's existing involvement in assisting Hong Kong's industries should be widened and enhanced, how this is to be achieved, and the costs and benefits involved". These terms of reference encompass an examination of the need for co-ordinated research and the Government's involvement in it. So I leave it to Mr. Wu to have his proposal to establish a Research Council examined by his sub-committee and the Advisory Committee itself will await with interest their detailed

recommendations.

(b)

Industrial Development Council

40.

I shall draw the attention of the Advisory Committee on Diversification to Mr. Allen Lee's plea for an Industrial Development Council, based as it was on his emphatic belief that the Government should guide the diversification of Hong Kong's industry. This Council, he said, should be "a central body with statutory status to plan and co-ordinate all activities related to industrial development". To my dismay he even hinted that the Government's establishment of the Advisory Committee indicated that "the Government will probably take an active role in directing (industrial diversification)". The Government had no such pre-conceived notions in mind when the Advisory Committee was established as the terms of reference make quite clear.

41.

(c) Interim report

Finally, Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen asked whether it would be possible for the Advisory Committee on Diversification to issue an interim report for public information, and to seek informed comment from industrial and commercial organisations. His Excellency has already outlined the progress made by the Advisory Committee to date and how it expects to complete its task. To ask the Advisory Committee to produce an interim

/report

...

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