JULSDAY, JUNE 10, 1986
* IN 1985, THE USA WAS THE LARGEST EXPORT MARKET
50.7 PER CENT), FOLLOWED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM (6.6 PER CENT), AUSTRALIA (4.6 PER CENT), THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (4.5 PER CENT), CANADA (2 PER CENT) AND ITALY (1.9 PER CENT).
* NOT ALL PLASTIC PRODUCTS WERE FOR EXPORT. LOCAL
DEMAND WAS HEALTHY FOR HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS AND SUCH HARDWARE PRODUCTS AS PIPES FOR WATER TRANSMISSION AND POLYETHYLENE FILM AND BAGS FOR THE PACKAGING OF GARMENTS AND FOOD PRODUCTS.
* THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC PRODUCTION IN 1983 OF ALL
ITEMS IDENTIFIABLE UNDER THE CATEGORY OF PLASTIC PRODUCTS STOOD AT $10.58 BILLION.
THE REPORT MAKES NINE RECOMMENDATIONS, THREE OF WHICH RELATE SPECIFICALLY TO THE PLASTICS CONVERSION INDUSTRY WHILE THE REST ALSO HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
* PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS SHOULD FOSTER THE
APPLICATION OF UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY BY THE PLASTICS CONVERSION INDUSTRY.
* NEW MATERIALS, NEW PROCESSING METHODS AND NEW
PRODUCTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES ARE MOST APPROPRIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY INTRODUCED THROUGH THE TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.
* A PLASTICS AND INDUSTRY DESIGN FACILITY SHOULD BE
SET UP TO ASSIST THE INDUSTRY IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS SKILLS AND TO PROVIDE ADVANCED TRAINING.
* THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) SHOULD
UNDERTAKE AN INDUSTRIAL MARKETING PROGRAMME DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE USEFUL TECHNOLOGY TO THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY.
* THE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION DIVISION OF
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SHOULD TAKE A MORE ACTIVE APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT INTO HONG KONG
* AN INDUSTRIAL TARGETTING COMMITTEE TO BE SET
UP TO CO-ORDINATE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE TDC AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SO AS TO AVOID OVERLAPPING.
* THE