INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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tion scheme. Under the certification scheme, government recognition will be conferred on companies which adopt quality management systems conforming with the international criteria ISO 9000. An independent subvented organisation, the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency was established to undertake the assessment work and to make recom- mendations to the government for the award of certification. Assessment of the initial group of factories will commence early in 1991.
On the advice of the Industry Development Board, the government gave approval in February 1990 for the establishment of a technology centre in Hong Kong to encourage the growth of technology-based firms. For this purpose, a site of 5 600 square metres at Yau Yat Tsuen was granted to the technology centre at nominal premium, and a grant of $250 million plus a loan of $188 million was approved to meet its construction and operating costs. The technology centre, to be known as the Hong Kong Industrial Technology Centre, will be established as a statutory corporation by the ordinance. Pending the enactment of the necessary legislation to establish the corporation, a Provisional Hong Kong Industrial Technology Centre Company Limited was formed in May 1990 to start planning and development of the technology centre. The technology centre will provide accommodation and services for established and fledgling technology- based companies. It will provide some services in 1991 and will be fully operational by 1993.
Competition in the 1990s will require Hong Kong to move progressively into more - knowledge-based and capital-intensive manufacturing. The demand for trained manpower will become focused on developing the skills needed to apply technologies associated with productivity growth, quality management and creativity in design. In response to these new training requirements, the Industry Department has been actively involved in the implementation of a proposal which calls for the establishment of a new technologies training scheme, under which employers will be able to obtain financial assistance to send their technologists and managers for training in those new technologies which are strategically important for industrial and economic development. Training will take the form of overseas and local training courses as well as overseas working attachments. The scheme will be administered by the Vocational Training Council, with the Industry Department and the Hong Kong Productivity Council jointly providing a placement assistance service. The scheme will begin in 1991.
During the year, the department was actively involved in the implementation of environmental measures outlined in the White Paper on Pollution in Hong Kong. Issues of particular note were a consultancy study on a proposed chemical waste treatment facility, the Low Sulphur Fuel Oil Bill, a proposal to introduce unleaded petrol and the Water Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill. The department's primary role has been to facilitate contacts between government and the manufacturing industry. Using its knowledge of industry, the department has provided advice to the government on the measures proposed. At the same time, it has taken every opportunity to liaise closely with the various industrial organisations concerned to ensure that the manufacturers are aware of govern- ment's proposals.
In connection with the proposed Water Pollution Control Bill, a survey that was carried out by the department revealed that there is a significant demand from heavy water-using industries, including the textiles finishing and electroplating industries, for special accommodation which can provide the necessary infrastructure to enable manufacturers to