XN000022-1983-10-12 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1983

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BACK-UP SERVICES FOR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL PRESS AHEAD THROUGH THE NEW, RESTRUCTURED INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WITH WORK ALREADY UNDERWAY TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICES AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT FACILITIES FOR THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, IN OPENING THE 1983 HONG KONG ELECTRONICS FAIR.

HE SAID: +AMONG OTHER THINGS, A TECHNO-ECONOMIC STUDY ON THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HAS RECENTLY BEEN CONDUCTED WITH A VIEW TO ESTABLISHING A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE INDUSTRY AND MEANS OF COORDINATING RESOURCES TO PROMOTE COLLABORATIVE TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT. A WORKING GROUP WITH GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION IS NOW CONSIDERING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT ON THE STUDY.+

MR HO SAID THAT THE IMPORTANCE AND THE FAST PACE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WAS PERHAPS MORE KEENLY FELT IN THE ELECTRONICS BUSINESS THAN OTHER MANUFACTURING SECTORS BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY- INTENSIVE NATURE OF THE INDUSTRY.

+ IN THIS RESPECT, OUR INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION ARE NOW BEGINNING TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN MEETING THE INDUSTRY'S NEEDS.+

AS A START, THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC ARE NOW ENGAGED IN THREE PROJECTS ON INTEGRATED CIRCUITS SEMI-CONDUCTORS AND THE APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS.

IN ADDITION THE POLYTECHNIC HAD THIS YEAR INTRODUCED A FOUR-YEAR SANDWICH COURSE LEADING TO A DEGREE IN ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING.

MR HO ALSO CALLED UPON ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS TO GIVE GREATER SUPPORT TO THE ENGINEERING GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEME INTRODUCED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

THE SCHEME WILL PROVIDE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRADUATES FROM ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES WITH PRACTICAL TRAINING ON THE SHOPFLOOR, THUS PROVIDING THEM WITH THE ESSENTIAL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, HE SAID.

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