XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 45

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

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STI PRAISES SUPPLIERS OF PLASTIC MATERIALS

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PRAISED THE HONG KONG PLASTICS SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPRESSIVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY.

ADDRESSING MEMBERS AT THE ASSOCIATION'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, MR CHAN SAID IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, THE ASSOCIATION HAD SHOWN ITS SUPPORT FOR THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY BY ENSURING A SMOOTH, RELIABLE SUPPLY OF PLASTIC MATERIALS

PARTICULARLY IN 1987 WHEN

THERE WAS A WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF PLASTIC RESINS.

RAW

RAW

"AS WE ALL KNOW, HONG KONG HAS VIRTUALLY NO INDIGENOUS MATERIALS AND THE CONTINUING SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY PLASTIC MATERIALS IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUED HEALTH OF OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR, MR CHAN SAID.

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"YOUR MEMBERS HAVE ALSO MAINTAINED VALUABLE TECHNICAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY ON THE SUPPLY OF NEW MATERIALS, SELECTION OF MATERIAL GRADES, IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSING AND THE MANAGEMENT AND SAFE STORAGE OF PLASTIC RAW MATERIALS, HE SAID.

H

SUPPORT IN THE

MR CHAN ALSO THANKED THE ASSOCIATION FOR ITS ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY CENTRE COMPANY LIMITED.

HE SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE ASSOCIATION WOULD CONTRIBUTE ENERGETICALLY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY CENTRE IN THE CHALLENGING YEARS AHEAD, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND CAPABILITIES OF THE LOCAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY.

THE PLASTIC TECHNOLOGY CENTRE COMPANY LIMITED WAS SET UP LAST YEAR WITH A GOVERNMENT GRANT OF $12.8 MILLION AND A PRIVATE DONATION OF $10 MILLION. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS A DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY.

COMMENTING ON THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, MR CHAN SAID PRACTICALLY ALL CONSUMER AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS NOW CONTAINED SOME ELEMENTS OF PLASTICS OR THEIR DERIVATIVES.

"THE SUCCESS OF OUR PLASTICS INDUSTRY IS NOW CLOSELY TIED то THE FORTUNES OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN GENERAL, HE SAID.

"

AT PRESENT THERE ARE ABOUT 5,600 ESTABLISHMENTS IN HONG KONG'S PLASTICS INDUSTRY AND THEY EMPLOY SOME 72,000 WORKERS, REPRESENTING 11 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE.

WITH A DOMESTIC EXPORT VALUE OF $11,847 MILLION IN 1988, THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY IS NOW HONG KONG'S SIXTH LARGEST EXPORT-EARNER.

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