XN000022-1980-05-07 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1980

GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN BACK-UP SERVICES FOR INDUSTRIES

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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TO BE APPOINTED IN THE FAIRLY NEAR FUTURE, WILL SIGNIFY A NEW PROFESSIONALISM IN GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO THE ROLE IT CAN AND MUST PLAY IN RESPECT OF TECHNICAL SERVICES AND BACK-UP FACILITIES FOR INDUSTRY IN THE EIGHTIES.

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR BILL DORWARD SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY AT THE OPEN DAY OF LABTEST (HONG KONG) LTD., WHICH HAS MOVED TO NEW PREMISES IN CASTLE PEAK ROAD, SHAM SHUI PO.

MR DORWARD POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION, WHICH RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF THE BOARD, HAS STRESSED THAT ANY SERVICE GOVERNMENT MAY PROVIDE TO INDUSTRY, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS, SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT AND NOT SUPPLANT SUCH SERVICES AS ARE PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

ALSO, THEY SHOULD NOT BE SUCH, IN COST OR NATURE, AS TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER NON-OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SERVICES.

+THIS IS, OF COURSE, IN COMPLETE CONFORMITY WITH THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE PRINCIPLE CONTINUES TO BE RESPECTED TO A DEGREE COMMENSURATE WITH THE APPARENT URGENCY OF THE NEED AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PRIVATE SECTOR APPEARS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO SATISFY IT, HE SAID.

ON QUALITY STANDARDS, MR DORWARD SAID THAT AT PRESENT THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL OR STATUTORY STANDARDS ORGANISATIONS, NOR DID HE THINK IT VERY LIKELY THERE WOULD BE ONE OUTSIDE THE FIELD OF PRIMARY STANDARDS,

LABTEST IS A JOINT VENTURE WITH UNITED STATES TESTING INC. ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT COMMERCIAL TESTING AND INSPECTION FIRMS IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS ASSISTED LABTEST IN TECHNICAL MATTERS AND STAFF TRAINING.

+THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF TECHNOLOGICAL CO- OPERATION WHICH HONG KONG NEEDS, AND WHICH OFFERS SUCH EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVERSEAS COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION, + MR DORWARD SAID.

THE COMPANY WAS SET UP IN 1972 WITH A STAFF OF THREE OPERATING IN 93 SQUARE METRES OF SPACE. TODAY IT HAS 55 PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND HAS MOVED INTO 1 488 SQUARE METRES OF PREMISES.

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