XN000022-1987-06-19 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1987

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'BASICALLY SECTOR A IS OUR OWN IDEAS AND CONCEPTS, то SHOW A PARTICULAR SECTOR THE DESIGN POTENTIAL MANUFACTURERS HAVE NOT DISCOVERED AND HELP TO SHOW WHAT COULD BE DONE," SAID MR TOMKIN.

HOWEVER, MR TOMKIN ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS SOME POTENTIAL MARKET FOR SECTOR A. TWO INNOVATIVE CASSETTE RECORDER/PLAYER DESIGNS WITH SPEAKERS IN THIS CATEGORY HAVE ALREADY ATTRACTED SOME INTEREST.

HE SAID: "THE COMPANY NEEDS LARGE AND LONG-TERM PROJECTS TO GET SELF-SUFFICIENT. WE HOPE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE COMPANY TO GET INVOLVED IN EVERY STAGE OF THE PRODUCT DESIGN LEADING TO ITS MANUFACTURE AND FOR IT TO SHARE LATER IN THE PROFIT OF THE MARKETING OF THE FINISHED DESIGN.

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DISTRIBUTING

NOT HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL AND BEING A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION, THE HONG KONG DESIGN INNOVATION COMPANY WILL GET A TOTAL SUBVENTION OF $8 MILLION DURING THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE COMPANY'S OPERATION. AN OPTIONAL INTEREST-FREE LOAN OF $1.2 MILLION WILL BE GRANTED IN THE FOURTH YEAR.

THE COMPANY PROVIDES CONSULTANCY SERVICES ΤΟ INDIVIDUAL MANUFACTURERS IN DIFFERENT SECTORS AND ALSO ASSESSES LOCALLY MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS IN TERMS OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR DESIGN INNOVATION AND MAKES PROPOSALS TO MANUFACTURERS THEREAFTER. THE COMPANY IS ALSO BUILDING UP A DATA LIBRARY TO EVALUATE THE DESIGN AND CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF ALL PRODUCTS.

THE COMPANY EXPECTS TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET WITHIN THREE YEARS AFTER IT OPENED 14 MONTHS AGO, AND IT INTENDS TO STIMULATE LOCAL INTEREST IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND ENCOURAGE PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION.

"WE HAVE TURNED DOWN CLIENTS WHO CAME TO US WITH INITIALLY UNVIABLE DESIGNS, SAID MR TOMKIN, "BUT THEY KEEP COMING BACK ΤΟ US WITH ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS AS THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH OUR JUDGEMENT AND INSIGHT.

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MR TOMKIN MAINTAINED THAT HEDIC CHARGED MARKET RATES FOR ITS DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY WORK. "WE SEEK AT LEAST TO COVER THE COST

AND, AT THE SAME TIME, DO NOT UNDERCUT FREELANCE DESIGNERS, SAID MR TOMKIN.

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HKDIC DESIGNERS, DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR WITH THE COMPANY, HAVE VISITED VARIOUS OVERSEAS TRADE SHOWS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND GET A FEEL OF THE NEEDS OF OVERSEAS MARKETS IN PRODUCT DESIGN IN VARIOUS SECTORS.

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