TNAG-1607-FCO40-22122-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 13

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adopted in respect of the less important industries which

have potential for developing expert-led growth.

I would

like to assure them all that the Industry Department's programme

of techno-economic consultancy-studies encompasses not only

the major industries but also the less important ones,

that the programme is indeed a continuing one.

and

22.

Mr Chung Pui-lam suggested that a scheme similar

to the Home Ownership Scheme type mortgage arrangements

be created to enable manufacturers to purchase their own

industrial accommodation, which implies that private sector

mortgage arrangements currently available are

onerous.

The Industry Department monitors the supply and price of

industrial accommodation in the course of its work in helping

investors to find suitable premises, and keeps its ears

quite close to ground. It has not been aware of complaints

for quite some time of either the non-availability of small

units or of complaints over prices, although the distribution

of available accommodation may not be sufficiently even

to suit the requirements of those who wish to operate in

speficic areas. Mr Chung also suggested the establishment

of an industrial development fund to be financed partly

or wholly from public funds, as a means of providing loans

at concessionary rates of interest to assist inter alia

small manufacturing businesses towards the cost of purchasing

industrial accommodation and machinery, to invest in certain

/businesses

•

}