********************************

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, has a frank and sincere discussion this (Friday) evening with a number of Legislative Councillors on labour and livelihood issues.

They were Legislative Councillors from the Citizens Party, the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, Frontier, and the Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre.

The Chief Executive stressed that employers and employees should be more understanding towards each other's difficulties and adopt a pragmatic attitude to help themselves tide over this difficult period.

"Hong Kong needs to enhance its competitiveness constantly to enable the sustained development of our economy. Taking this as their common goal, employers and employees should step up communication and seek a solution that will benefit both sides," he said.

On the future development of the textile and clothing industry, the Chief Executive pointed out that the industry employed some 68,000 workers, accounting for 1.6 per cent of our GDP.

"To safeguard the interest of these workers, we must take a long

term view of the issue when considering how best to tackle it," he said.

As for the importation of labour, Mr Tung said that it had always been and would remain the Government's policy to ensure priority of employment for local workers.

He hoped people in the industry would join hands to study carefully ways to upgrade its technological and productivity level so that it would continue to contribute to Hong Kong's economy.

The Chief Executive also discussed the environmental protection issue with the Legislative Councillors. Expressing concern over the price level of LPG, he said, "Our drive to improve the environment will be affected if LPG prices remain on the high side, specifically this will affect our efforts to improve the air quality."

Mr Tung said the Administration attached great importance to public opinion, including the opinion of Legislative Councillors. He believed that as people from different sectors might hold different views, it was most important that they should be able to exchange their views frankly.

"Through collecting public opinion, the Government will have a better grasp of the wishes of the people when formulating policies in the best interest of the community," he said.

End/Friday, January 8, 1999

Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, met with members of the Citizens Party, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, Frontier as well as the Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre at the Chief Executive's Office.

NNNN