XN000022-1992-04-06 — Page 5

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MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1992

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MR WONG SAID THE AGENCY OPERATED AS AN INDEPENDENT REGISTERED COMPANY, BUT FOR THE TIME BEING WAS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE

"BECAUSE OF THE VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE BY BOTH MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE SECTORS OF INDUSTRY TO THE CONCEPT OF ISO 9000 CERTIFICATION, THE AGENCY HAS HAD TO REVISE ITS BUSINESS PLANS TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT HAS AMOUNTED TO AN AVALANCHE OF APPLICATIONS.

LONG-TERM

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY APPROVED A INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO THE AGENCY, SO THAT IT CAN RESPOND MORE QUICKLY TO THE GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR CERTIFICATION," HE SAID.

MR WONG SAID AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE CONTINUING PROMOTION OF QUALITY PRACTICES, A QUALITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN 1989, AS PART OF WHICH QUALITY MANAGEMENT SEMINARS, BRIEFING SESSIONS FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND WORKSHOPS IN SPECIALIST QUALITY MANAGEMENT TOPICS WERE ORGANISED.

QUALITY TRAINING

NON-GOVERNMENTAL

"WE ALSO CO-OPERATE WITH OUTSIDE BODIES ON PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST ORGANISATIONS TO TAKE ON A MORE PROACTIVE ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF QUALITY," HE SAID.

"AT THE SAME TIME, WE CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR EXISTING QUALITY SERVICES, NAMELY, THE STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY (ESTABLISHED IN 1984), THE HONG KONG LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SCHEME (HOKLAS) (LAUNCHED IN 1985), AND THE PRODUCT STANDARDS INFORMATION BUREAU (ESTABLISHED IN 1986),' HE ADDED.

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VOLUNTEERS PLAY VITAL ROLE IN WELFARE

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VOLUNTEERS NOW PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN WELFARE WORK, LADY WILSON SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

OFFICIATING AT A SOUVENIR PRESENTATION AND TEA RECEPTION OF THE HELPING HAND COOKIE CAMPAIGN 1992, LADY WILSON SAID THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS IN HONG KONG HAD NEVER BEEN SO VARIED AND EXCITING AS THEY WERE NOW.

NEVER BREN SO SOUGHT AFTER AND

"THEIR SERVICES HAVE APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

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SHE POINTED OUT THAT VOLUNTEERS NOW RAN HUGE WELFARE AGENCIES WITH MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS.

AND HELPING HAND,

WHICH WAS NOT

OF WHAT A

SUBVENTED BY

GROUP

THE

OF DEDICATED

GOVERNMENT, PROVIDED A MODEL VOLUNTEERS WITH DRIVE AND VISION COULD DO.

/"HELPING HAND