XN000022-1989-03-14 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1989

IT ALSO COVERS MATTERS CONCERNING THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE; EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION; THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY: CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS: AND THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT; SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ORDER.

THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED IN HONG KONG TODAY (TUESDAY) AND BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.

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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE REPORT. AVAILABLE BILINGUALLY, FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT CONNAUGHT PLACE. CENTRAL, AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES SECTION AT FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, CENTRAL.

INTENSIVE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE QUALITY AWARENESS

SHOULD HONG KONG FALL BEHIND IN THE WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT TOWARDS QUALITY ASSURANCE, ITS EXPORTS COULD BE PLACED AT A DISADVANTAGE VIS-A-VIS ITS COMPETITORS IN THE NEWLY INDUSTRIALISED ECONOMIES.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR ANDREW LEUNG, SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT THE SPRING DINNER OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFICATION LABORATORIES LTD.

WITH OVER 90 PER CENT OF ITS MANUFACTURING OUTPUT BEING EXPORTED, HONG KONG SHOULD PROTECT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE ITS ACCESS RIGHTS AGAINST TECHNICAL BARRIERS BUILT ON ASSURANCE, MR LEUNG SAID.

GROUNDS OF QUALITY

IN FACT, CONSULTANTS HAD POINTED OUT THE CRITICAL, IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT CONFORMITY TO QUALITY STANDARDS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, IF HONG KONG'S EXPORTS WERE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN WORLD MARKET.

MR LEUNG OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVE IN THIS FIELD.

THE PROGRAMME OF WORK, WHICH WAS BEING CO-ORDINATED BY A NEW QUALITY ASSURANCE UNIT SET UP WITHIN THE QUALITY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, INVOLVED SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES IN THREE MAIN AREAS, HE SAID.

IMPROVEMENTS ΤΟ THE EXISTING SERVICES INCLUDED FURTHER EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRODUCTS STANDARDS INFORMATION BUREAU: DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEASUREMENT CAPABILITIES OF GOVERNMENT'S STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY; AND EXTENDING SCOPE OF THE HONG KONG LABORATORIES ACCREDITATION SCHEME (HOKLAS).

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/SECONDLY, MR