INDUSTRY AND TRADE
to assess where its support is needed. It also monitors the adequacy of Hong Kong's infra- structure, particularly the availability of land and trained manpower.
An increasingly-important part of the department's work is to promote the wider appli- cation of quality assurance in the manufacturing sector. Its Standards and Calibration Laboratory, which has been accredited by the National Measurement Accreditation Service (NAMAS) of the United Kingdom, acts as the repository of Hong Kong's official measurement standards and provides a calibration service to manufacturers to enable them to meet measurement standards required for their products. The laboratory presently has measurement capabilities for a wide range of electrical frequencies, temperature and mechanical measurements and has begun to extend its coverage to include force, pressure, humidity and volume standards.
The department will implement a quality improvement programme early in 1990. The programme provides for the strengthening of the existing range of quality support services, the development of a quality management accreditation scheme and a campaign to raise the level of quality awareness among manufacturers. Preparations for the quality- awareness campaign were made during the year and a new Quality Assurance Unit was set up within the Quality Services Division to advise on technical aspects of the campaign and to plan and implement the quality management accreditation scheme, for which a Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency will be established with a government subvention.
The Product Standards Information Bureau advises manufacturers on national and in- ternational documented standards, product regulations and legislation in Hong Kong's major overseas markets. To improve the storage and retrieval of product standards information, a computer-based system linked to overseas data bases has recently been developed.
The department also operates the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS), to upgrade the standard of testing and management of Hong Kong laboratories. HOKLAS identifies and accredits competent testing laboratories. The scheme continued to expand its scope of accreditation activities to include chemical testing in 1989 and, by the end of the year, had accredited 20 laboratories in various fields of testing. In March 1989, HOKLAS concluded a mutual recognition agreement with NAMAS, whereby Hong Kong exports accompanied by HOKLAS-endorsed test certificates would be accepted in the United Kingdom without further testing. Goods accompanied by NAMAS-endorsed certificates would be similarly accepted in Hong Kong.
A number of industrial support initiatives were pursued during the year. A Clothing Technology Demonstration Centre was established by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Clothing Industry Training Authority to demonstrate modern production systems to clothing manufacturers. Arrangements were made for the Hong Kong Design Innovation Company, which was set up with public funds in 1985, to form a partnership with the Hong Kong Productivity Council to deliver a more integrated product design and innovation service to manufacturers. On the advice of the Industry Development Board, the government commissioned consultants to undertake a planning study for the establishment of a technology centre in Hong Kong to encourage the growth of technology-based firms.
On March 23, 1989, a technical co-operation agreement was signed between the governments of Hong Kong and Japan, which will improve Hong Kong's capability in high-precision sheet metal processing. Japan will contribute equipment to the Precision Tooling Training Centre of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and provide in- structors to train council staff in tool design, die manufacture and machine operation. The
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