126 | Commerce and Industry
Hong Kong's testing and certification industry is well known for its professionalism, integrity and knowledge of the international market. The enormous socio-economic growth in the Mainland offers huge expansion potential for this
sector.
Standards and Calibration Services
The ITC's services in the areas of metrology and documentary standards provide the technical foundation for Hong Kong's standards and calibration infrastructure.
The Standards and Calibration Laboratory (SCL) is the official custodian of Hong Kong's physical measurement reference standards. It provides a comprehensive calibration service traceable to the International System of Units. It is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures and its calibration certificates are recognised internationally by all the participating national metrology institutes.
The Product Standards Information Bureau disseminates information relating to documentary standards. It operates a product standards library and provides sales of standards and free technical advice service on standards-related matters. It also organises seminars to promote the benefits of standardisation. The bureau represents the HKSAR in regional and international standardisation bodies and encourages local experts to take part in international standardisation activities, including participation in the International Organisation for Standardisation for the development of international standards. It also co-ordinates Hong Kong's input to the APEC on standards and conformance matters and acts as Hong Kong's Enquiry Point and Notification Authority under the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
Human Resources, Technical Education and Industrial Training
Success in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century depends heavily on availability of talent and skilled manpower at all levels. High level education and training are provided by tertiary education institutions. The Vocational Training Council is a statutory body established in 1982 to provide a comprehensive system of vocational education and training for school leavers and adult learners. It also administers a new technology training scheme which provides financial help to employers to train their staff to use new technologies. The Clothing Industry Training Authority runs two training centres for the clothing and footwear industries.
Consumer Protection
Consumer Council
The Consumer Council is a statutory body established in 1974 to protect and promote the interests of consumers of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees of immovable property. The council comprises 22 members appointed by the Government from a wide spectrum of the community.
The council's key activities include testing and survey programmes, price surveillance, complaint and advice services, consumer policy studies, consumer