TNAG-1607-FCO40-22122-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 41

5

The

has required almost continuous pressure from industry on. Government over a period of many years. At present, thousands of our young people go overseas every year for tertiary educational training largely because we do not have the University places available here to meet the great demand. cost of these overseas students to their parents and to the Government (by subsidy) would probably have paid for a substantial expansion of University places on our own soil. have been slow to react to the need for expanding tertiary educational facilities, essential to our long term economic development. A detailed study of the changing situation which I have tried to describe and its implications for the future provision of the educational facilities required would be

helpful.

We

Productivity training is clearly essential for manufacturing efficiency. In 1986/87 we are spending about $54 million on the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Centre although this includes a supplementary provision for a special

This contrasts with $210 project valued at $19 million. million on essentially export promotion through the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Whilst I fully support the TDC programme and expenditure, I think we should remember that we must produce high quality products before we can promote their sale. I believe that a detailed examination of our productivity training and consultancy services should be carried out to see whether the existing services are adequate for the size and technological character of our industry.

Management training is largely provided by the

Here too private sector itself with the support of the HKMA. it seems to me that we have not recognised quickly enough the

There need for management knowledge by our young managers. should surely be management training facilities in all main districts of Hong Kong organised or coordinated by the HKMA. It is interesting to note the very small expenditure of public funds which is now rather unwillingly allocated to this