XN000022-1990-01-09 — Page 7

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1990

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TO THESE MANUFACTURERS, HE SAID THE MAIN CHALLENGE OF THE 1990'S WOULD BE "QUALITY"

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"YOU WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE TOYS WHICH ARE FIT FOR USE: WHICH COMPLY HITH RELEVANT SAFETY STANDARDS; WHICH ARE ATTRACTIVELY DESIGNED; WHICH ARE RELIABLE; AND WHICH OFFER VALUE FOR MONEY," НЕ SAID.

MR BARMA ASSURED INDUSTRIALISTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO ESTABLISH A SOUND QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN HONG KONG, AND INTENDED TO BUILD ON THE TERRITORY'S SUCCESS IN THE 1990'S.

"BESIDES IMPROVING OUR EXISTING RANCE OF STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION SERVICES, WE HAVE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED AN ACCREDITATION AGENCY TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR MANUFACTURERS TO PRODUCE TO INTERNATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS.

"WE WILL ALSO SHORTLY BE LAUNCHING A MAJOR QUALITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, HE SAID.

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PROPER QUALITY

HE SAID THE BASIC MESSAGE WOULD BE SIMPLE MANAGEMENT IS PROFITABLE AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTING TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL ADVICE ON QUALITY MANAGEMENT WHICH HAD PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

"WE WILL ALSO STRESS IN OUR MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS THAT HONO KONG IS MOVING DECISIVELY INTO HIGH-QUALITY MANUFACTURING, HE SAID.

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MR BARMA SAID THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR WOULD PROBABLY PRODUCTIVE THAN IT WAS TODAY.

BE MORE

"FACED WITH INCREASING COMPETITION FROM LOW-COST ECONOMIES IN THE REGION, AND WITH DEMAND IN ITS MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS FOR EVER-HIGHER STANDARDS OF QUALITY, IT WILL RETAIN ITS COMPETITIVENESS BY MOVING DECISIVELY INTO HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, HE SAID.

HE SAID AUTOMATION WOULD BE ONE PART OF THE UPGRADING PROCESS, BUT SUCCESS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE MANUFACTURERS TO ADOPT A PHILOSOPHY DIRECTED AT THE CONSUMER'S REQUIREMENTS.

QUALITY, FLEXIBILITY, RESPONSIVENESS

WOULD BE EQUALLY IMPORTANT, HE STRESSED.

AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

NR BARMA EXPECTED HONG KONG'S "SWEATSHOP" IMAGE WOULD HAVE GONE FOR EVER.

"OUR FACTORIES WILL BE CLEAN, SAFETY STANDARDS WILL BE HIGH, AND OUR PRODUCTS WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR QUALITY.

"WE WILL INCREASINGLY BE MANUFACTURING ΤΟ LOCAL DESIGNS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON SPECIFICATIONS PROVIDED BY OVERSEAS BUYERS.

"WE WILL HAVE A TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CREATIVE IDEAS CAN FLOURISH, HE SAID.

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