§ 76. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that the labour department of the Hong Kong Government is receiving reports of more than 1,000 industrial accidents a month: and that 766 of these were recorded in the textiles industry alone between last April and September; and if he will have immediate consultations with the Governor about this matter with a view to improving the situation.
§ Mr. LuardThe 766 accidents in the textile industry referred to by my hon. Friend in fact took place over the longer period January to September. I know that the Hong Kong Government is concerned about the incidence of industrial accidents and is doing all it can to reduce it.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult with the Hong Kong Government about a modification of the recent increases in the price of land with 20W a view to helping the expansion of industry.
§ Mr. LuardI am not clear what kind of modification my hon. Friend is suggesting. It is true that the price of land has increased, but the upset price of industrial land, i.e. the price at which bidding is required to commence at Government land auctions, has not risen lately.
Industrial expansion itself is largely responsible for the increase in price.
The Hong Kong Government is making further supplies of industrial land available as quickly as it can, but increasingly this will be situated in outlying and less favoured areas of the Colony. Industrial land in the existing urban areas is likely to continue to command a premium.
§ Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide for the Hong Kong Government to co-operate with the industrial community in providing greater financial support for technical education as a means of raising productivity in the colony.
§ Mr. LuardMy hon. Friend may be assured that the need for concerted effort by Government and industry in the development of technical education and vocational training in Hong Kong is widely accepted and already provided for. A considerable increase in expenditure will be required to which, it is to be hoped, industry will make a substantial contribution.