The fact that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong's rapidly proliferating industrial enterprises were (and still are) local institutions encouraged that policy. Apart from the modest efforts by the Department, the only regular, albeit limited, programme of overseas industrial promotion was carried out by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in the late seventies.
A
7
Prior to and during the deliberations of the Advisory Committee on Diversification, the Trade Industry and Customs Department was formulating plans and developing techniques for a more extensive and professional approach to industrial promotion. These were predicated on the belief that effective efforts in this field needed:
8
(a)
(b)
(c)
a sound data base
well developed back-up facilities
technically competent men who could discuss with industrialists in their own terms and give meaningful assistance, in their countries and in Hong Kong, in conducting feasibility studies.
To this end, as an experiment, three industrial development officers were recruited in the period 1977-79. The normal prescribed qualifications for such officers are:
9
(a)
(b)
a degree in industrial, electrical, mechanical or production engineering from a HK or British University or equivalent professional qualifications;
at least 10 years industrial experience with no less than 5 years in senior managerial position, previous industrial promotion experience an advantage.
The Advisory Committee on Diversification, in paragraph 499(C) of its Report, noted that this experiment had been successful and recommended (Recommendation 42) the expansion of such recruitment "to enable greater promotional efforts to be made overseas - perhaps by stationing some of these officers overseas".
10
In furtherance of this recommendation, the Trade Industry and Customs Department has selected six further industrial development officers for appointment. Those chosen have professional degrees in industrial, electrical, mechanical and production engineering or other relevant qualifications, substantial industrial experience and linguistic abilities.
G.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL
機密