XN000022-1990-09-26 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1990

STUDY ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY PLANNED

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL COMMISSION A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY TO ASSESS THE LATEST MARKET TREND, IDENTIFY THE INDUSTRY'S CHARACTERISTICS AND RECOMMEND MEASURES THAT WILL FURTHER FACILITATE ITS DEVELOPMENT.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION CENTRE AT KOWLOON BAY TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID THE STUDY WAS PART OF REGULAR TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND MARKET RESEARCH STUDIES COMMISSIONED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ON MAJOR GROUPS OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING TEXTILES AND CLOTHING.

"THESE STUDIES AIM TO ASSIST MANUFACTURERS IN UPGRADING THEIR OPERATIONS AND IN ACHIEVING HIGH VALUE-ADDED IN THEIR PRODUCTS," HE SAID.

THE LAST TEXTILES AND CLOTHING STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 1986, MR CHAN SAID, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM IT HAD LED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF A RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO MBBT THE DEMANDS OF INDUSTRY, THE CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION CENTRE BEING THE NOTABLE EXAMPLE.

IN THE FACE OF QUOTA LIMITATIONS AND ARISING LABOUR COSTS THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF HONG KONG'S CLOTHING INDUSTRY WOULD DEPEND ON ITS то CAPACITY TO PRODUCE HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, TO DIVERSIFY, AND PENETRATE NEW MARKETS.

"WITH THE JOINT EFFORT OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL AND THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY, THE CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP PRECISELY TO FOSTER QUICK RESPONSE AND IMPROVEMENT OF GARMENT MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IN HONG KONG.

"IT IS HOPED THAT MANUFACTURERS CAN ACHIEVE HIGHER VALUE-ADDED THROUGH PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PRODUCT INNOVATION, MR CHAN SAID.

IN

OF

AND

HE SAID THE CENTRE WAS TASKED WITH DEMONSTRATION APPROPRIATE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES AND SYSTEM, RESEARCH

TO SUIT HONG KONG 8 DEVELOPMENT, ADAPTATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY

ΤΟ DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENT, AND ORGANISATION OF SEMINARS AND COURSES TECHNICAL INFORMATION TO THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY.

WAS

THE

THE CENTRE OPERATED ON THE BASIS OF PROCESSING GENUINE ORDERS

CHAN AND ACTUAL PRODUCTION OF GARMENTS WHICH, MR

BELIEVED, BEST WAY TO PROVE THE REAL BENEFITS OF ANY TECHNOLOGY OR SYSTEM.

OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY

THE MINIMISED

AND

MANUFACTURERS WOULD SEE THE APPLICATION IN A REAL ENVIRONMENT; AND SUCH DEMONSTRATIONS FOR THEM TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW SCHEMES ON THEIR OWN THE TRANSFER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, HE SAID.

RISKS

FACILITATED

"I WOULD URGE GARMENT MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE CENTRE'S FACILITIES AND TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY ADOPTING THE AND SYSTEMS WHICH THE CENTRE HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED," HE ADDED.

TECHNOLOGY

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