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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Hong Kong Productivity Council and Centre The Hong Kong Productivity Council, a statutory organisation established in 1967, is responsible for promoting the increased productivity of industry in Hong Kong. The council comprises a chairman and 20 members, all appointed by the Governor. It is financed by an annual government subvention and by fees earned from services. The executive arm of the council is the Hong Kong Productivity Centre which provides technical help, industrial consultancy, and computer and economic research services to clients in industry. It also conducts a wide range of training programmes in industrial technology, management techniques and electronic data processing.
The centre's facilities include eight lecture rooms, a low cost automation unit, an industrial chemistry laboratory, a technical reference library and a computer system. An electronics unit has been set up to help upgrade the technology of this important industry and to promote the application of electronic equipment in process and quality control. Preparations are being made to establish heat treatment facilities in 1979. The United Nations Development Programme is providing technical assistance for the project.
An Industrial Development Division was set up during the year to concentrate on three major aspects: technical information services, techno-economic studies, and development projects which warrant priority attention in Hong Kong's industrial development such as environmental control services, waste treatment and recycling, and technology transfer.
The expansion of the centre's technical information services was marked by the publication of two specialised quarterly information bulletins on plastics and furniture. The publications, in English and Chinese, are being circulated to major manufacturers in the two industries in Hong Kong, as well as to interested parties overseas. The bulletins are complemented by the provision of a comprehensive literature research, technical enquiry and consultancy service. Acting as an agent for one of the inter- national technology transfer organisations, the centre introduced licensing, sub- contracting and other business opportunities to industrialists through the medium of a quarterly publication.
A start has been made in tackling productivity problems in various industry sectors. Following the setting up of the Federation of Hong Kong Furniture Manufacturers, the centre, in collaboration with other industry support organisations, began a pro- gramme to assist this industry to improve its productivity and export performance. Recognising the important role of the foundry industry in the industrial development of Hong Kong, the centre carried out a survey to identify the market for castings and to assess the potential for improving the technical capability of the industry.
During 1978, the centre conducted more than 300 training programmes and provided 2,800 man-days of consultancy and technical help. In keeping with the government's effort to attract investment in manufacturing industries, the centre played an important role in providing much-needed technical support services to industrialists establishing production operations in Hong Kong.
The centre organised two industrial exhibitions on production machinery and equip- ment, and four overseas study missions. The 1978 edition of the Directory of Hong Kong Industries, a salary report and industry data sheets were published.