INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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of the estate and market conditions. In 1983, the corporation also adopted measures aimed at increasing the up-take of its land.
Besides offering sites to industrialists for the construction of their own purpose-built factory buildings, the Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation also offers pre-built factory premises for purchase or rental by those who wish to commence production with the minimum of delay. The standard factories are fully serviced four-storey buildings with units constructed with maximum flexibility to suit the varied requirements of potential occupiers.
Outside the industrial estates, 10 sites with an overall area of 28 818 square metres were sold for industrial use in 1983. Special development conditions were attached to one of them. These lease conditions called for the provision of heavy floor loading capacities and high ceilings on some floors to accommodate certain types of machinery; and, up to July 1983, in the case of smaller sites for a minimum of 20 per cent of the space provided to consist of units not larger than 75 square metres to cater for small industries.
The government also proceeded with the construction of flatted factories to accom- modate, in permanent buildings, squatter workshops and small operators cleared for public purposes. One such factory block is due to be completed in 1984.
Industry Development Board
To provide greater impetus to the board's work and to rationalise the government's consultative machinery for industry, the Industrial Development Board was merged with the Industry Advisory Board to form the Industry Development Board (IDB) in October 1983. This new board, like its predecessor, is chaired by the Financial Secretary and comprises representatives from trade and industry, tertiary education institutions and civil servants. Its terms of reference are to advise the government on all industrial matters other than labour and those falling within the purview of the Textiles Advisory Board.
During 1983, the Industry Development Board and its precursors continued to work towards improvements in the provision of industrial support facilities and technical back-up services for industry. As a result of their deliberations, the government took steps. to establish a standards and calibration laboratory in the Industry Department; commis- sioned a consultancy on accreditation of testing laboratory services in Hong Kong; completed two techno-economic studies on the electronics and the metal and light engineering industries; and funded three micro-electronic projects at the two universities and the polytechnic. Additionally, with their support, a conference on quality assurance was held in October to encourage quality consciousness within industry.
Industrial Investment Promotion
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Following a decision to reorganise and strengthen Hong Kong's industrial investment promotion work, the Industry Department set up four industrial promotion offices overseas in 1982 – in Tokyo, London, Stuttgart and San Francisco and increased its specialist industrial promotion staff at the head office. As a result, the number and range of industrial investment promotion activities in Hong Kong and overseas were increased during 1983. Missions were organised to the United States, Japan, Sweden and West Germany, for the first time including Hong Kong industrialists in addition to Industry Department officials, providing opportunities for the industrialists to meet potential overseas partners. The missions to the United States, Sweden and West Germany were combined with industrial investment promotion seminars and factory visits in the main cities to acquaint the industrialists with the latest developments in technology and modern