2 -
boom conditions, but obviously the worst of the recession is behind
U5,
and we can look forward to a period of expanding exports and solid
growth
-
provided that is to say, that we hold our competitive edge
and our ability to attract custom.
"I very much hope that Hong Kong's next period of growth
will see a greater diversification of the industries on which we depond.
You may be assured that the Government will play its part in this with
regard to land policy, provision of industrial estates, promotion of
foreign investment, and the rapid expansion of technical education.
"But it is clear that the production of consumer goods will
remain Hong Kong's chief source of income for the foreseeable future
and that the prosperity of this industry will depend to a large extent
on a continual upgrading of quality and design. Producers of low cuality
goods will find it increasingly difficult to retain their share of in-
ternational markets in the face of competition from lower labour cost
countries.
"The Industrial Design Council has an important role to play
in impressing upon industry the need to use to the full the design
skills and ability available in Hong Kong. I am interested to her that
the Council is paying attention to the protection of designs as one neens
of encourc.ging original work. A very important innovation introduced
last year was the setting up of the Design Depository, where owners may
lodge their original designs in order to provide prima facie evidence
of copyright ownership.
"The importance of good design to the marketability of product
cannot be over-emphasised. I share Mr. Wu's distaste for bogus
aesthetics and fussiness. I think we still produce too many dosigns
which are over complicated and gimmicky but then, so do the nost
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advanced industrial countries and I am glad to say that more of our
manufacturers now understand that well designed consumer products are often
deceptively simple. The award winning products here today well do-
monstrate this.
/"I am