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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
developed markets. The premia received by the corporation continues to average 0.5 per cent of declared and insured exports, and the total received since inception is about $60 million.
The corporation continued to make progress during the year. Close to $2 billion worth of exports were insured under almost 950 current policies representing more than 100,000 shipments. The growing liabilities undertaken required an increase in the statutory guarantee from $1,750 million to $2,000 million. This was approved by the government in August.
There was a reduction during the year in the insured exports of textile products in line with slower demand. Interesting increases were noted, however, in exports on credit terms of footwear, toys and electronics.
During 1977, several policies were issued to protect capital goods exports, and a number of unconditional guarantees were given by the corporation to various banks financing such projects.
For the past eight years, the corporation has been a member of the International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers (The Berne Union), which now has 34 members representing 26 countries. It also is a member of the union's specialised management committee. The 12-member committee met in Hong Kong for the first time in March at the invitation of the corporation.
Hong Kong Productivity Council and Centre
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The Hong Kong Productivity Council was set up by statute in 1967 to promote the increased productivity of industry in Hong Kong. The council comprises a chairman and 20 members all appointed by the Governor. There are 14 members repre- senting management, labour, academic and professional interests. The other six members represent government departments closely associated with various aspects of productivity.
The executive arm of the council is the Hong Kong Productivity Centre, which offers professional services in various fields to help management attain optimum use of resources - manpower, machines, capital and materials - by introducing up-to-date methods of analysis, and modern techniques and technology.
The centre conducts a wide range of training programmes in industrial technology, management techniques and electronic data processing. It provides industrial con- sultancy, technical help, and computer and research services to clients in industry. The centre also conducts techno-economic studies and innovative development pro- jects, collects and disseminates technical information on industrial productivity, organises industrial exhibitions and overseas study missions, and publishes a monthly bulletin and other technical reports.
The centre's facilities include eight lecture rooms, a low-cost automation unit, an industrial chemistry laboratory, a technical reference library, a computer system and audio-visual facilities.
In keeping with the increasing demand from industry for technological know-how to diversify into more sophisticated product lines, more emphasis has been placed on technological services in areas of training, consultancy and technical help. In 1977, the centre conducted 288 training programmes, with special emphasis on courses designed for specific sectors of industry, and provided 3,500 man-days of consultancy