INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Hong Kong Productivity Council
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The Hong Kong Productivity Council was established by statute in January 1967 to promote the increased productivity of industry in Hong Kong. The council in 1974 comprised a chairman and 20 members all appointed by the Governor, of whom 10 members represented management, labour, academic and professional interest; while the other 10 members represented government departments closely associated with productivity matters.
The executive arm of the council is the Hong Kong Productivity Centre which was formally established in April 1967. To achieve its objectives, the centre co-ordinates the activities of persons and organisations engaged in the study and development of productivity techniques in industry, conducts training courses in productivity tech- niques, provides consultancy services and technical assistance, undertakes economic research projects in industry and collects and disseminates information relating to productivity.
The centre operates in three premises, one in the business district of Hong Kong and two in industrial Kwun Tong which comprise five lecture rooms, electronic data processing facilities, a low cost automation unit, an industrial chemical laboratory, an audio-visual unit, a technical reference library and an exhibition hall.
In recognition of the need for Hong Kong to diversity into more sophisticated product lines and technically advanced industries, considerable emphasis has been placed on industrial technology both in the field of technical assistance and training. During 1974 the centre conducted more than 180 training courses, undertook 60 industrial and technology projects, and organised three overseas study missions to observe technological trends in advanced countries.
The centre continued to provide a technical information service to keep manage- ment and technical personnel in commerce and industry informed of the latest develop- ments in management and manufacturing techniques. In November 1974 the service of a United Nations expert, was obtained to advise on a technical information centre to meet industry's demand for technical information.
To keep manufacturers abreast of the latest developments in production ma- chinery, equipment and materials, and to facilitate contact between manufacturers and suppliers, the centre organised a series of exhibitions in its Kwun Tong office on metal finishing; textile dyeing, finishing and printing materials and equipment; and printing equipment and accessories.
A fuel efficiency expert was brought in from the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) in February to study the consultancy needs of Hong Kong's industry. Arising from this, two Japanese experts visited Hong Kong during September to conduct seminars and consultancy services in the field of fuel management.
The present chairman of the Productivity Council was appointed by the Governor as Hong Kong's director on the governing body of the APO and the executive director of the Productivity Centre as alternate director.