XN000022-1979-10-21 — Page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1979

TWO FIRSTS FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS SENDING ITS FIRST WORKING LEVEL INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO JAPAN IN MID-NOVEMBER, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IT WILL HAVE A STAND AT THE TECHNO TOK YO FAIR THIS YEAR.

THE PRIMARY AIM OF THE MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY FROM JAPAN TO HONG KONG, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

+THE MOVE FOLLOWS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG-JAPAN BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE WHICH IS ALSO TO MEET IN TOKYO IN MID-NOVEMBER, AND THE HIGH-LEVEL HONG KONG ECONOMIC MISSION TO JAPAN A YEAR AGO,+ HE SAID.

LEADING THIS YEAR'S MISSION WILL BE MAJOR C.G. BERNARD,

THE DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER. AFTER TECHNO 1979 WHICH IS TO BE HELD FROM NOVEMBER 13 TO 17, HE WILL VISIT COMPANIES THERE DURING THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS.

+THIS WILL ALSO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG COMPANIES WHO ARE CONSIDERING THE EXPANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF THEIR BUSINESSES, + MAJOR BERNARD SAID.

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+HONG KONG COMPANIES SEEKING NEW PRODUCTS, PRODUCTION PROCEDURES AND TECHNOLOGIES, OR INTERESTED IN JOINT VENTURES OR LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS, ARE INVITED TO CONTACT MR. PATRICK LIN OF THE DEPARTMENT BY TELEPHONING 3-671294 BEFORE NOVEMBER 5,+ HE SAID.

APPROACHES HAVE BEEN MADE TO SOME 160 COMPANIES, RANGING FROM THOSE ENGAGED IN LIGHT TO MEDIUM-HEAVY ENGINEERING AND METAL INDUSTRIES, THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, AND INDUSTRIES PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SUPPORTING AND SERVICING FACILITIES SUCH AS METAL CASTING, FORGING, ELECTROPLATING, TOOL AND DIE-MAKING, PRECISION' MACHINING AND HEAT TREATMENT.

+FOR SOME YEARS HONG KONG HAS BEEN MOVING AWAY FROM LABOUR INTENSIVE, LOW TECHNOLOGY ASSEMBLY INDUSTRIES, AND WE ARE THEREFORE ACTIVELY SEEKING TRANSFER OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FROM COUNTRIES SUCH AS JAPAN, SAID MR. WILLIAM DORWARD, WHO IS TO SUCCEED MR. DAVID JORDAN AS DIRECTOR OF TRADE,

INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS LATER THIS MONTH.

*WE ENCOURAGE ALL INDUSTRIES ALIKE. SOME OF THOSE WE BELIEVE TO HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ARE LIGHT ENGINEERING, THOSE PRODUCING GOOD QUALITY STEEL AND

IRON CASTINGS, PRODUCTION FOUNDARIES, AND THOSE COMPANIES ENGAGED IN NON-FERROUS CASTINGS, PARTICULARLY OF BRASS AND ALUMINIUM ALLOYS, HE SAID.

/+LOW TAX