XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986

THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT IS ALSO POISED TO IMPLEMENT THE HONG KONG LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SCHEME (HOKLAS) WHICH IS AIMED AT ENABLING SECONDARY TESTING LABORATORIES, IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, TO BECOME SUFFICIENTLY COMPETENT.

GN RECEIVING ACCREDITATION THE TESTING AND CERTIFICATION SERVICES OF THESE LABORATORIES COULD BE TRACED, IN THE CASE OF STANDARDS, TO THE PRIMARY STANDARDS KEPT BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND TO INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCEDURES FOR LABORATORY OPERATIONS, HE SAID.

MR HO FURTHER EMPHASISED THAT HONG KONG SHOULD NOT PRICE ITSELF OUT OF THE MARKET AS A RESULT OF PROCEEDING TOO FAR AND TOO FAST WITH LABOUR AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION LEGISLATION.

COMMENTING ON THE NEED TO REVIEW THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION, AND THE FORMATION OF ANOTHER COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE PROPOSED, MR HO SAID THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCEPTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF REGULAR MONITORING BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

HE ADDED THAT THE ACD REPORT'S IN-BUILT MECHANISM FOR CONTINUING PLANNING, MONITORING AND ADVICE, THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ANOTHER REVIEW BODY.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MANY IDB MEMBERS CONSIDERED HAVING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AS THEIR CHAIRMAN WAS A PROMISE, IF NOT A GUARANTEE, OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.

MR HO SAID THE CREATION OF A TRADE AND INDUSTRY COMMISSION, UNLIKE THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, WOULD NOT PROVIDE FOR BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN SUCH BODIES AS THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, THE PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, IDE AND SO ON.

+ THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR FORMULATING AND COORDINATING THE GOVERNMENT'S TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL POLICIES RESTS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND THE PRESENT MACHINERY WORKS SMOOTHLY, HE SAID.

+THERE ARE ALSO MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EDUCATIONAL AND TRADE AND INDUSTRY BODIES.+

REGARDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HE SAID THE ELECTRONICS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD WAS NOT ACTIVELY CONSIDERING WHAT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY COULD USEFULLY BE INTRODUCED INTO HONG KONG SO AS TO ENABLE MANUFACTURERS OF RELEVANT EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS TO UPGRADE THEIR OUTPUT.

TURNING TO