INDUSTRY AND TRADE
75
In 1986, close to $6,380 million in goods and services were insured by the corporation, which earned a premium income of more than $40.5 million. Some 155 claims were paid, involving a total of $15.2 million.
Hong Kong Productivity Council
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), a statutory organisation established in 1967, is responsible for promoting increased industrial productivity in Hong Kong. The council has a chairman and 20 members, all appointed by the Governor, representing management, labour, academic and professional interests as well as government depart- ments closely associated with productivity. It is financed by an annual government subvention and by fees earned from its services.
The council has over 280 staff members covering a wide range of disciplines. An important strength of the HKPC is its ability to mix and blend skills for a large variety of industrial and management consultancy as well as technological support services. It conducts a diverse range of training programmes in industrial technology, management techniques and computer-related topics. It organises industrial exhibitions and overseas study missions, and operates a technical information service. It also undertakes develop- ment work in priority areas with multiple application potential so that upon successful completion newly-developed productivity improvement systems can benefit as many users as possible. The legislative amendment in 1985 provided for the enlargement of the council's powers and functions to enable it to meet the changing industrial development needs of Hong Kong with greater flexibility and effectiveness.
The council's facilities include five training centres - in Central District, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, To Kwa Wan and Tai Kok Tsui electronic data processing facilities, microprocessor application laboratory, industrial automation unit, industrial chemistry laboratory, metal finishing laboratory, heat treatment unit, die-casting unit, environmental control laboratory, technical reference library, on-line information retrieval service and the newly established CAD/CAM centre and workshop.
During the year, the council's implementation plan on a ‘unified approach' to industry support services was approved by the government. It included the expansion of relevant technical branches to provide an integrated industrial automation support service, and a limited expansion of its metals development facilities with special emphasis on the improvement of precision tooling capability. In view of the increasing size and diversity of the HKPC, a committee was appointed to advise on its long-term accommodation arrangement.
On an assignment for the Industry Department, the council assisted SRI International in a techno-economic study of the plastics conversion industry. It also undertook specific industry studies for trade bodies in collaboration with external consultancies.
There was a sustained demand for the council's management and industrial consultancy services from both local and overseas companies in establishing new plants, and in expanding and streamlining their operations. The council completed 260 consultancy projects, including feasibility studies, production management, new plant projects, person- nel recruitment, marketing and technical assistance services. In metals technology, 2 900 heat treatment and metal finishing assignments were completed on behalf of client com- panies to improve the quality of their production tooling and to increase the produc- tivity of their operations.
The Microprocessor Application Laboratory was engaged in the provision of consul- tancy and training services and the development of productivity enhancement systems.