XN000022-1984-03-07 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984

INDUSTRIALISTS URGED TO INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON INDUSTRIALISTS TO INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY TO RESPOND TO CHANGING MARKETS.

ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, MR HO RECALLED THAT THOSE WHO HAD PROSPERED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES WITH HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIALISATION WERE THOSE WITH VISION WHO HAD PLANNED AND INVESTED FOR THE FUTURE.

+THE SAME PHILOSOPHY STILL HOLDS GOOD TODAY. THOSE WHO WISH TO SHARE IN OUR FUTURE GROWTH MUST BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO CHANGING MARKETS AND, IN PARTICULAR, BY INVESTING IN NEW TECHNOLOGY,+ HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT, SAID MR HO, WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO INDUSTRY THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES AS WELL AS INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES.

IN PARTICULAR, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT'S STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY WOULD OPEN FOR BUSINESS SHORTLY AND WORK ON LABORATORY ACCREDITATION WAS PROGRESSING STEADILY.

+THESE DEVELOPMENTS TOGETHER WITH THE CONSULTANCY AND RESEARCH PROJECTS RECOMMENDED BY THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD ARE ALL INTENDED TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY AND QUALITY CONTROL IN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES, SO THAT OUR PRODUCTS CAN MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE IR SHARE OF INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE WORLD MARKETS, MR HO SAID.

COMMENTING ON A PROPOSAL BY MR H.C. TANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THAT THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT'S FOUR OVERSEAS OFFICES SHOULD GATHER INFORMATION ON THE MARKETS OF THE REGIONS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE AND DRAW UP TREND REPORTS FOR USE IN HONG KONG, MR HO SAID THAT THE SUGGESTION DESERVED EXAMINATION IN DEPTH.

HOWEVER EACH OF THESE OFFICES HAD A SMALL STAFF, HE SAID, EMPHASISING THAT THE MAIN THRUST OF THEIR WORK MUST CONTINUE TO BE AIMED AT ATTRACTING OVERSEAS INVESTORS TO HONG KONG.

BUT THE INFORMATION THEY GLEANED COULD WELL SUPPLEMENT THE MARKET RESEARCH DONE BY THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, HE ADDED.

+ I WELCOME THIS AND ANY OTHER SUGGESTION FOR MAKING THESE OFFICES EVER MORE EFFECTIVE IN PROMOTING OUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND IN MAKING HONG KONG'S SMALL NUMBER OF OVERSEAS POSTS INTO A CO-ORDINATED AND COST EFFECTIVE NETWORK.

+ ENTIRELY AGREE WITH YOUR AIM THAT WE SHOULD ALL PULL TOGETHER IN A MORE ORDERLY AND STRUCTURED FASHION,+ HE SAID.

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