TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1987
CONFERENCE TO HIGHLIGHT INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES
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A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD LATER THIS YEAR WILL EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANDING AND DIVERSIFYING HONG KONG'S CHEMICAL PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.
THE CONFERENCE +PROSPECTS FOR HONG KONG'S CHEMICAL PROCESS INDUSTRIES IN THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT WILL BE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG CHEMICAL SOCIETY AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
THE HONORARY PATRON OF THE SOCIETY, MR WONG PO-YAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT STATISTICS SHOWED A $10 BILLION A YEAR TRADE DEFICIT IN NON-ENERGY CHEMICALS.
+WE BELIEVE THAT MUCH CAN BE DONE TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP THIS POTENTIAL INDUSTRY AND TURN IT INTO A MORE SIGNIFICANT SECTOR IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMY, IT CAN BE A STRONG ELEMENT IN ENSURING THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION) OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, MR IAN HOWARD, ECHOED MR WONG'S VIEW. HE SAID IN A COMPETITIVE WORLD THERE WERE NO EASY SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF SUCCESSFUL MANUFACTURE FOR EXPORT.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCTIVITY USUALLY REQUIRED INVESTMENT WHICH WOULD NOT BE FORTHCOMING UNLESS INVESTORS WERE CONVINCED THE RETURN WOULD BE SATISFACTORY.
THE GOVERNMENT'S INDUSTRIAL POLICY WAS TO ALLOW MARKET FORCES TO DETERMINE BUSINESS DECISIONS AND THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. HOWEVER THERE WERE AREAS WHERE OUTSIDE HELP WAS NEEDED AND IT WAS FOR THAT REASON THAT THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND MAINTAINS A PROGRAMME OF STUDIES, BY CONSULTANTS, OF VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL SECTORS,
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS USED TO IMPROVE THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND TO DRAW ATTENTION TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
HE COMMENDED THE HONG KONG CHEMICAL SOCIETY FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE IN DRAWING ATTENTION TO NEW AND CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES IN A VERY IMPORTANT SECTOR OF THE TERRITORY'S INDUSTRIAL BASE.
*WE IN THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO THE SOCIETY FOR THEIR EFFORT AND MOST PLEASED TO LEND OUR ACTIVE SUPPORT TO THE EVENT, HE SAID.
THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 11 AND 12 AT THE HOTEL VICTORIA. THERE WILL BE FOUR WORKSHOPS, AT WHICH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, SINGAPORE, CHINA AND HONG KONG WILL PRESENT THEIR VIEWS. THE TOPICS WILL BE THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT; THE OPPORTUNITY; RESOURCES AND LIMITATIONS; AND DIRECTION AND STRATEGY.
/THE FINANCIAL