XN000022-1975-10-11 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1975

H.K. TOY-MAKERS CONSCIOUS OF SAFETY

STANDARD OF THEIR PRODUCTS

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HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THEIR

RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR TOYS SAFE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH, LADY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY WHEN SHE OPENED THE HONG KONG TOY AND GIFT FAIR AT THE CONVENTION CENTRE IN CAUSEWAY BAY.

LADY MACLEHOSE NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAD BEEN THE WORLD'S

LARGEST EXPORTERS OF TOYS SINCE 1973.

+THIS IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF QUANTITY AND COMPETITIVE PRICES, IT IS ALSO QUALITY AND QUALITY MEANS MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL.

+CONSISTENCY OF QUALITY IS THE BEST WAY TO RETAIN OLD CUSTOMERS AND TO WIN NEW ONES, SHE ADDED.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF LADY MACLEHOSE'S SPEECH.

+IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO OPEN HONG KONG'S FIRST TOY AND GIFT FAIR, ALTHOUGH MANY HONG KONG TOY MANUFACTURERS HAVE REGULARLY PARTICIPATED IN SIMILAR FAIRS OVERSEAS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY THEIR PRODUCTS ON THEIR OWN HOME GROUND - AND A FASCINATING DISPLAY IT IS.

+SINCE 1973 HONG KONG HAS BEEN THE WORLD'S LARGEST EXPORTER OF TOYS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF QUANTITY AND COMPETITIVE PRICES: IT IS ALSO QUALITY AND QUALITY MEANS MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL. CONSISTENCY OF QUALITY IS THE BEST WAY TO RETAIN OLD CUSTOMERS AND TO WIN NEW ONES.

+OUR MANUFACTURERS ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR TOYS SAFE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH. BUT SINCE EACH IMPORTING COUNTRY HAS ITS OWN SAFETY REGULATIONS AND EACH FACTORY IS PRODUCING A VARIETY OF TOYS, THERE IS AN IMMENSE TASK IN PLANNING AND SUPERVISING TO ENSURE THAT PRODUCTS MEET THE STANDARDS REQUIRED IN ALL OUR MARKETS. IN THIS RESPECT, OUR INDUSTRIALISTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE TECHNICAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE.

+TO OUR OVERSEAS VISITORS TO THE FAIR 1 EXTEND A VERY WARM WELCOME. I AM SURE THEY WILL BE IMPRESSED, AS I HAVE BEEN, BY THE HIGH QUALITY, ORIGINALITY AND DESIGN OF THE TOYS AND GIFTS ON DISPLAY HERE, AND THAT THEY WILL FIND MUCH TO SUIT THEIR MARKETS.

+FINALLY, I SHOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MR. BLAAUW, AND YOUR COMMITTEE FOR YOUR INITIATIVE IN ORGANISING THIS FAIR, AND I WISH IT EVERY SUCCESS.+

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