XN000022-1992-02-21 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1992

THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY IS THE FIFTH LARGEST THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR. DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF AMOUNTED TO $8.1 BILLION IN 1990.

EXPORTS BARNER IN PLASTICS PRODUCTS

THE CONSULTANTS POINTED OUT THAT IN THE 1980S, LOCAL PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS RESPONDED TO RISING LABOUR AND LAND COST IN HONG KONG BY RELOCATING THEIR MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS INTO THE GUANGDONG PROVINCE WHERE PROXIMITY, LOW LAND COST, AND PLENTIFUL SUPPLY OF CHEAP LABOUR ALLOWED THEM TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL MARKET.

HOWEVER, THESE ADVANTAGES HAVE SLOWLY BERN ERODED BY THE EMERGENCE OF NEW DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE RISING WAGES AND LAND COST IN THE GUANGDONG PROVINCE AS A RESULT OF ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THE CONSULTANTS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT LOCAL PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS ARE CAPABLE AND SHOULD ADOPT AND LEARN NEW SKILLS то MANUFACTURE HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS.

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TO THIS END, THE CONSULTANTS HAVE PUT FORWARD A VARIETY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES; STATISTICAL DATA COLLECTION; EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF TECHNICAL PERSONNEL; IMPROVEMENT OF MOULDMAKERS' CAPABILITIES: PRODUCT DESIGN REGISTRATION AND PROTECTION; CO-ORDINATION OF VARIOUS SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS; AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

THE PLASTICS. COMMITTEE OF THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS IN DETAIL AND WILL ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON WHAT FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN.

OLD-TYPE ID CARDS INVALID AS FROM FEBRUARY 24

THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED WOMEN BORN IN 1928 OR BEFORE THAT THEIR OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BEFORE JULY 1, 1987 WILL BECOME INVALID FROM NEXT MONDAY (FEBRUARY 24).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) SAID: "THIS IS THE 11TH BATCH OF OLD-TYPE 1.D. CARDS ISSUED BEFORE JULY 1. 1987 TO BE DECLARED INVALID.

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THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ONCE AN OLD CARD WAS DECLARED INVALID, IT WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY PURPOSE.

"FOR EXAMPLE, WOMEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP HOLDING AN INVALID OLD-TYPE I.D. CARD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT POR TRAVELLING ABROAD OR APPLYING FOR A TRAVEL DOCUMENT, HE SAID.

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"THOSE WHO