XN000022-1985-10-25 — Page 16

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1985

APPOINTMENT TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR HELMUT SOHMEN TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM OCTOBER 30, 1985 UNTIL AUGUST 31, 1988.

MR SOHMEN, AGED 45, IS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING AGENCY LTD. HE IS ALSO DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGAL COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WITH MR SOHMEN'S APPOINTMENT ALL 22 PLACES FOR APPOINTED MEMBERS ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN FILLED.

CALL FOR HIGHER TESTING LABORATORY STANDARDS

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UNLESS TESTING LABORATORY STANDARDS ARE RAISED AND THE IR SERVICES ACCREDITED BY THE GOVERNMENT HONG KONG WOULD FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SELL ITS PRODUCTS OVERSEAS, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A LABORATORY MANAGEMENT AND ACCREDITATION SEMINAR JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFICATION LABORATORIES LIMITED, MR YAXLEY SAID IN RECENT YEARS MUCH MORE EMPHASIS HAD BEEN PLACED OVERSEAS ON THE QUALITY ASPECTS OF PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMERS HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE DISCRIMINATING.

+ IN RESPONSE TO THIS TREND WE HAVE SEEN THE EMERGENCE WORLDWIDE OF QUALITY CERTIFICATION SERVICES, PROVIDING THE NECESSARY CONFIDENCE TO PURCHASERS THAT GOODS HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO QUALITY STANDARDS.

+ IN THE PAST, CONSUMERS OF OUR MANUFACTURED GOODS HAVE BEEN USING A VARIETY OF EXAMINING METHODS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES TO SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT OUR GOODS MET WITH THEIR SPECIFICATIONS.

+THIS HAS HAPPENED DESPITE THE FACT THAT QUALITY CHECKS

ON THE GOODS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED HERE IN OUR OWN LABORATORIES AND TEST HOUSES.

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+TO PUT IT BLUNTLY THEY HAVE NOT ALWAYS TRUSTED OUR CHECKS OR ACCEPTED OUR TEST REPORTS. HONG KONG HAS NOT BEEN SINGLED OUT FOR THIS TREATMENT, INDEED, ALMOST EVERY EXPORTING COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR TREATMENT,+ MR YAXLEY SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IT HAD BEEN FELT FOR SOME TIE T INTERNATIONAL TRADE MEETINGS THAT A MECHANISM SHOULD BE FOUND WHICH WOULD PREVENT UNDEMONSTRATED TESTING PROFICIENCY BEING USED AS A TECHNICAL BARRIER TO TRADE.

THE IRNA "IUM