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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
consultancy services and technical assistance, undertakes economic research projects in industry and collects and disseminates information relating to productivity.
The centre is operating in three premises, one in Central and two in Kwun Tong which comprise five lecture rooms, electronic data processing facilities, a low cost automation unit, an industrial chemical laboratory, an audio-visual unit and a technical reference library.
In recognition of the need for Hong Kong to diversify into more sophisticated product lines and technically advanced industries, the council and centre have placed considerable emphasis on industrial technology both in the field of technical assistance and training. During the year, the centre conducted more than 180 training courses, undertook 60 industrial and technology projects, and organised two overseas study missions to observe technological trends in advanced countries. A technical informa- tion service was introduced to keep management and technical personnel in commerce and industry informed of the latest developments in management and manufacturing techniques.
To expand its electronic data processing facilities, the centre installed a sophis- ticated computer system with four magnetic tape handlers in September. With this important addition to its facilities, the centre is able to play a leading role in the pro- vision of computer training in Hong Kong.
Considerable progress was also made in the promotion of low cost automation as a means of improving the productivity and profitability of small-scale industry and in view of the excellent response received last year, the centre held another exhibition of low cost automation equipment in November 1973.
The centre participated in the Loans for Small Industry Scheme to the extent of undertaking technical feasibility studies referred to it.
The government is a member of the Asian Productivity Organisation. The deputy chairman of the council in 1973 was appointed by the Governor as Hong Kong's Director on the Governing Body of the Asian Productivity Organisation and the Executive Director of the Productivity Centre as Alternate Director.
As a member of the Asian Productivity Organisation, Hong Kong was represented at the organisation's 13th Workshop Meeting of National Productivity Centres in Sri Lanka in February and at the 15th Governing Body Meeting in Saigon in May.
During the year, the centre was admitted as a full member of the International Federation of Documentation (FID) and became a participating organisation of the Asian Network for Industrial Technology Information and Extension (Technonent: Asia) established under the auspices of the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC).
Trade and Industrial Organisations
Founded in 1861, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is the earliest established trade association in Hong Kong. Its membership stood at more than 2,000