PUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1985
THE HEAD OF SWIRE SCHOOL OF DESIGN AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, MR MICHAEL FARR, WAS ELECTED VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF HKDIC, A GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED COMPANY TO PROVIDE HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WITH A PRODUCT INNOVATION, DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD COMPRISE THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY; THE CHAIRMAN OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL DESIGN COUNCIL AND ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF HAKING W. INDUSTRIES LTD., MR HERBERT WONG; THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, MR S.K. CHAN; THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS LIMITED. MR CHEN YEE MAU; THE ENGINEERING DIRECTOR OF BONDWELL HOLDING LIMITED, MR ANTHONY KWOK; AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (DESIGNATE) OF THE COMPANY, MR DOUGLAS TOMKIN.
THE EIGHT-MEMBER BOARD REPRESENTS A MIX OF EXPERTISE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, TECHNICAL AND GOVERNMENT SECTOR.
THE COMPANY, INCORPORATED ON OCTOBER 7 THIS YEAR, IS INTENDED TO ACT AS A SPUR FOR HONG KONG IN THE MOVE TOWARDS THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH-QUALITY GOODS BY PROVIDING RESEARCH AND DESIGN AT MARKET RATES. IT IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE IDEA OF ASSISTING LOCAL MANUFACTURERS WITH A DESIGN AND INNOVATION SERVICE STEMMED FROM A PROPOSAL MADE BY MR FARR OF THE SWIRE SCHOOL OF DESIGN.
THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HKDIC AMOUNTS TO $9.2 MILLION, MADE UP OF A SUBVENTION OF $8 MILLION TO COVER THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE COMPANY'S OPERATION AND AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN OF $1.2 MILLION TO BE TAKEN OUT IN THE FOURTH YEAR. THE COMPANY IS EXPECTED TO BE FINANCIALLY SELF-SUPPORTING IN ITS FIFTH YEAR OF OPERATION.
SCHEME FOR ELDERLY TO ENJOY DISCOUNTS
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ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BENEFIT FROM A DISCOUNT FACILITIES SCHEME DURING THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.
STARTING FROM SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 16), PEOPLE AGED 60 OR OVER CAN OBTAIN DISCOUNTS WHEN SHOPPING OR EATING OUT IN THE DISTRICT.
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME WERE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHEME'S WORKING GROUP, MR LEE SHUN-WAI.
MR LEE SAID THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME WAS TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE DISTRICT.