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Innovation and Technology
Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification
The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification advises the government on the overall development strategy of the testing and certification industry. Its members come from the industry, businesses, professional organisations and relevant public bodies and government departments. It recommends measures to promote testing and certification services, and to support the industry on manpower, capital, technology and other areas.
A new measure took effect in February, permitting owners of industrial premises to apply to the Lands Department for a waiver of user conditions under their land leases to allow testing and calibration laboratory operations in industrial buildings. Applicants pay an administrative fee but are exempted from the corresponding waiver fee.
The Mainland is opening up its market to Hong Kong's testing and certification industry. By end-2016, the commission's Hong Kong Accreditation Service had accredited 11 laboratories to conduct tests required by the China Compulsory Certification System.
Hong Kong Accreditation Service
The accreditation service operates according to international standards and is active in international and regional accreditation communities. As at end-2016, it had 95 mutual recognition arrangements partners in 94 economies. Through these arrangements, the results of tests, calibrations, certifications and inspections provided by its accredited organisations are recognised globally, thus facilitating cross-border business.
Standards and Calibration Laboratory
The Standards and Calibration Laboratory is the HKSAR's official custodian of physical measurement reference standards and provides a calibration service traceable to the International System of Units. It represents the HKSAR as a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures. As such, calibration certificates issued by the laboratory are recognised internationally.
Product Standards Information Bureau
The Product Standards Information Bureau operates a product standards library, provides sales of standards and offers free technical advice on standards-related matters. It represents the HKSAR on regional and international standardisation bodies and acts as the city's Enquiry and Notification Point under the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
Innovation and Technology Ecosystem
The government adopts a multi-pronged approach to creating a vibrant I&T ecosystem in collaboration with the industry, academia and research sector. It provides infrastructural and financial support, promotes human resource development, collaborates with external economies and fosters an innovation culture in the community.
The Policy Address and Budget Speech of 2016 injected more than $18 billion into the I&T ecosystem. A series of measures were formulated to encourage universities to conduct more midstream research, co-invest with private venture capital funds in local technology
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