XN000022-1988-06-28 — Page 6

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1988

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INDUSTRIALISTS URGED TO MOVE UPMARKET

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED INDUSTRIALISTS TO INVEST IN ORIGINAL PRODUCT DESIGN AND PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT SO THAT HONG KONG CAN MOVE UPMARKET REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD MARKET.

AND

MR MACLEOD WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE 1988 HONG KONG NEW PRODUCTS COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION (CMA).

HE SAID THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS, HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS LARGELY PRODUCED GOODS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS' SPECIFICATIONS, BUT IN RECENT YEARS, WITH THE INCREASING COMPETITION AND GROWING DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS INCORPORATING ORIGINALITY IN DESIGN. THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASING TENDENCY FOR INNOVATION AND IMPROVED QUALITY.

"TODAY WE SEE MORE AND MORE HONG KONG PRODUCTS BEING PRODUCED TO ORIGINAL AND GOOD DESIGNS AND HIGHER STANDARDS. MANUFACTURERS ARE NOW WELL AWARE OF THE NEED TO CONSIDER NOT JUST THEIR PRODUCTION COST BUT ALSO QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY,

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HE SAID.

MR MACLEOD CITED EXAMPLES OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTED MANUFACTURERS BY PROVIDING NECESSARY SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP THEM UPGRADE THEIR CAPABILITY IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

"IN 1985, THE HONG KONG DESIGN INNOVATION COMPANY SET UP WITH PUBLIC FUNDS TO PROVIDE MANUFACTURERS WITH PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DESIGN SERVICES," HE SAID.

LIMITED WAS A RANGE OF

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN 1987, A SCHEME

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WAS INTRODUCED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL ΤΟ ENABLE PRACTISING ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS TO GO ABROAD TO OBTAIN TRAINING IN THE DESIGN AND USE OF APPLICATIONS SPECIFIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS.

IN CLOSING, HE PAID TRIBUTE TO CMA FOR ITS SUSTAINED EFFORT PROMOTING PRODUCT DESIGN AND QUALITY.

IN

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