INDUSTRY AND TRADE
industry to become more competitive through productivity growth, quality improvement and product innovation. The government encourages technology transfer through an in- ward investment promotion programme.
Industry Department
The Industry Department is responsible for the implementation of the government's industrial policies. It aims at improving the competitiveness of Hong Kong's manufac- turing industries by providing developmental and infrastructural support and promoting inward investment where this introduces new or improved products, designs, processes and management techniques into Hong Kong.
The department carries out techno-economic and market research studies on the major industries, and smaller-scale studies of other selected industries, to enable the government to assess where its support is needed. It also monitors the adequacy of Hong Kong's infrastructure, particularly the availability of land and trained manpower.
A range of quality support services has been established by the department to assist manufacturers in upgrading the quality of their products. The department's 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 has measurement capabilities for a wide range of electrical frequencies, temperature and mechanical measurements. This capability is being expanded to include force, pressure, humidity and volume standards. A new laboratory is under construction and will provide a force calibration service for the construction industry by 1991.
The Product Standards Information Bureau advises manufacturers on national and international 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 been established.
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 and has accredited 33 laboratories in various fields of testing. Further to the mutual recognition agreement signed with NAMAS in 1989, HOKLAS concluded in April 1990 similar agreements with the National Association of Testing Authorities of Australia and the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation of the United States. Under these agreements, endorsed test certificates issued by accredited laboratories and accompanying exports would be accepted in one another's territory without resorting to further testing.
To raise the level of quality awareness among local manufacturers, the department launched an ongoing Quality Awareness campaign in March 1990. The core of the campaign message is that Hong Kong needs 'quality' and 'quality' is profitable. The campaign message is being disseminated by a series of quality management seminars, workshops and a wide range of promotional and informative literature.
The Quality Awareness campaign is in fact part of a wider Quality Improvement Programme being implemented by the department to promote the increased adoption of quality assurance in manufacturing. Other components of the programme include strengthening the existing quality services and developing a quality management certifica-
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