6
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987
+ THE FIRST CYCLE OF THE TECHNO-ECONOMIC CONSULTANCY STUDIES UNDERTAKEN ON THE ADVICE OF THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (IDB) IS NEARING COMPLETION. AS A RESULT, AN OVERALL PICTURE OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE MAJOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE, HE ADDED.
IN THE CASE OF MANPOWER TRAINING, MR HO SAID THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC) HAD AGREED TO DEVOTE PRIORITY TO A LARGER OUTPUT OF ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS IN THE NEXT TRIENNIUM AND THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS TO MODIFY THEIR CURRICULA, WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING THAT THEIR GRADUATES BECAME MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN COMPUTER AND MICROPROCESSOR TECHNOLOGIES.
+ THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD ALSO APPROVED
A COMMITMENT OF $6 MILLION LAST NOVEMBER FOR A PILOT TRAINING SCHEME TO ENABLE PRACTISING ENGINEERS TO LEARN CIRCUITRY DESIGN ABROAD WITH A VIEW TO RETURNING TO HONG KONG FOR WORK WITH SEMICONDUCTOR FIRMS.
+FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL TO INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT SERVICES.+
TURNING TO INWARD INVESTMENT PROMOTION, MR HO SAID STEPS WERE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE MACHANISM FOR TARGETING FOREIGN MANUFACTURING FIRMS, TO DEVELOP CONTACTS WITH FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS WITH A VIEW TO FACILITATING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TRANSACTIONS, AND TO REINFORCE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICES LOCATED OVERSEAS.
TURNING TO INDUSTRIAL ACCOMMODATION, MR HO POINTED OUT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS NOW CONSIDERING WHETHER THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DEMAND IN HONG KONG TO ESTABLISH A TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, POSSIBLY IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL.
+THESE TECHNOLOGY CENTRES TYPICALLY PROVIDE CLEAN, DUST-FREE, NOISE-FREE AND VIBRATION-FREE ACCOMMODATION FOR COMPANIES ENGAGED IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PROTOTYPE PRODUCTION.
+MEANWHILE, PLANNING IS NOW UNDER WAY IN THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE WHETHER A PAST OF THE YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATE COULD BE USED FOR SUPPORTING OR LINKAGE INDUSTRIES.
+IT IS ALSO ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT A WORKING PARTY SET UP BY THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS IS ASSESSING THE DEMAND FOR VENTURE CAPITAL AS A SOURCE OF INVESTMENT FUNDS ALTERNATIVE TO BANK LOANS.
'+THIS WORKING