XN000022-1987-04-28 — Page 8

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1987

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TRIAL RUN FOR INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION SERVICE

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THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD TODAY (TUESDAY) ENDORSED THE START OF A PILOT INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION SERVICE TO BE MOUNTED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, WITH THE AIM OF HELPING MANUFACTURERS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPROVE QUALITY.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS, WHO IS THE IDB CHAIRMAN, EXPLAINED AFTER THE BOARD'S MEETING THAT THERE WERE THREE IMMEDIATE AIMS OF THE SERVICE:

* TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AMONG MANUFACTURES OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE SERVICES OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT;

* TO EXPLAIN HOW THESE SERVICES WOULD HELP MANUFACTURERS TO

ACHIEVE PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH AND QUALITY ENHANCEMENT; AND

* THROUGH REFERRAL, TO ASSIST THEM TO OBTAIN THESE SERVICES.

FOUR TEAMS ARE TO BE FORMED FROM INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT STAFF, EACH CONSISTING OF A TRADE OFFICER AND AN ENGINEER. THEY WILL VISIT A FACTORY, EXAMINE ITS OPERATIONS AND DISCUSS ITS NEEDS AND ANY PROBLEMS. THEY WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE SERVICES OF THE HKPC, THE DEPARTMENT, TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND EXPLAIN HOW THESE SERVICES COULD HELP THE FACTORY.

THE PILOT SERVICE WILL CONCENTRATE ON MEDIUM-SIZED FACTORIES. NO NEW STAFF WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE SCHEME, MANPOWER COMING FROM PRIMARILY EXISTING DEPARTMENT STAFF.

THE BOARD ENDORSED THE EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME NOTING THAT WHILE THE CLIENTELE OF THE HKPC AND THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAD INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS, THE NORMAL PROMOTION EFFORTS OF THE TWO ORGANISATIONS NEEDED TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY INCREASED DIRECT CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURERS IN THEIR FACTORIES.

IT IS INTENDED THAT THE PILOT SERVICE SHOULD RUN FOR SIX MONTHS. IT WILL THEN BE ASSESSED BY THE IDB, WITH A VIEW TO DETERMINING WHETHER A PERMANENT SERVICE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.

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