XN000022-1983-10-10 — Page 4

HONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1963

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MR YAXLEY POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE SERVICES SECTOR IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMY, MANUFACTURING FOR EXPORT REMAINED +VERY MUCH THE MAJOR FEATURE OF THE ECONOMY+.

IT ACCOUNTED FOR 25 PER CENT OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT LAST YEAR AND 40 PER CENT OF EMPLOYMENT, HE ADDED.

HE SAID IT WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT AS HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING OUTPUT MOVED UP MARKET. AS A RESULT OF COMPETITION AND AN INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED AND DEMANDING PURCHASING PUBLIC, WORLD WIDE, IT SHOULD DEVOTE MUCH MORE ATTENTION TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE GOODS PRODUCED.

+ IF WE DO NOT DO SO THEN OUR CONTINUING SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE JEOPARDISED, HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDED THE SETTING UP BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF A STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY WITH A STAFF OF ABOUT 40 AND WITH EQUIPMENT COSTING ABOUT $16 MILLION,

+IT WILL INITIALLY PROVIDE MEASUREMENT STANDARDS AND

CALIBRATION FACILITIES FOR THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES. IN ADDITION, PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF CERTAIN MASS, LENGTH AND FORCE STANDARDS TO SUPPORT A SYSTEM OF TESTING LABORATORIES ACCREDITATION IN HONG KONG.

MR YAXLEY ALSO SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS EXAMINING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEM TO ASSESS THE COMPETENCE OF THE LABORATORIES TO UNDERTAKE VARIOUS TYPES OF TESTS SO THAT TEST CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THEM WERE ACCEPTED INTERNATIONALLY.

+CONSULTANTS TO ADVISE US AS TO HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AND ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT. AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LABORATORY ACCREDITATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TESTING INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, IS NOW BEING FORMED TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ACCREDITATION SYSTEM, HE SAID.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCT TESTING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE YEARS TO THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY TO THE UPGRADING OF THE QUALITY OF HONG KONG'S EXPORT PRODUCTS, MR YAXLEY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUED GOOD RELATIONS WITH THESE LABORATORIES AND TO THE IR ASSISTANCE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACCREDITATION SYSTEM.

DISCUSSING PRODUCT STANDARDS, MR YAXLEY SAID SO FAR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT'S INVOLVEMENT HAD BEEN LIMITED TO THE COLLECTION

τιο AND DISSEMINATION OF OVERSEAS STANDARDS, AND CONSULTATION WITH TRADE AND INDUSTRY ON THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH STANDARDS ON THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. AND, UPON REQUEST FROM INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT MADE REPRESENTATION TO OVERSEAS STANDARDS BODIES WHERE SUCH STANDARDS UNREASONABLY AFFECT HONG KONG'S INTEREST.

THE DEPARILAT