XN000022-1992-06-25 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1992

HE SAID SUPPORT WAS ALSO CHANNELLED THROUGH A NUMBER OF SPECIALIST AGENCIES, ADDING THAT SOME OF THESE AGENCIES WERE LONG ESTABLISHED.

"THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, WHICH PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND DISSEMINATION TO INDUSTRY, IS NOW IN ITS 25TH YEAR.

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"OTHERS, SUCH AS THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, ARE NEW VENTURES. THE CENTRE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION 1994 BUT IS ALREADY OFFERING SOME SERVICES, WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION AND SPECIALISED FACILITIES FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY-BASED BUSINESSES.

"ALSO NEWLY ESTABLISHED IS AN APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME, WHICH AIMS TO ENCOURAGE COMPANIES TO INVEST IN INNOVATION.

"UNDER THE SCHEME, GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE AVAILABLE $200 MILLION FOR INVESTMENT IN WORTHWHILE CORPORATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INJECTING UP TO 50 PER CENT OF THE COST OF A GIVEN PROJECT," MR CHAU SAID.

THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IS ALSO BEING STRENGTHENED, HE SAID.

"GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT HAS RISEN SHARPLY IN RECENT YEARS. THE POOL OF RESEARCHERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS WHICH IS NOW BEING BUILT UP WITHIN THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE WELL PLACED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN INDUSTRY,' MR CHAU SAID.

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TURNING TO GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT IN RAISING THE QUALITY OF THE MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS, MR CHAU SAID IN 1989, THE GOVERNMENT SET UP AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY - THE HONG KONG QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY TO RUN A VOLUNTARY ISO 9000 CERTIFICATION SCHEME.

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THE AGENCY HAS RECEIVED 100 APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION ANOTHER 500 COMPANIES HAVE MADE POSITIVE ENQUIRIES.

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"LAST YEAR, GOVERNMENT LENT THE AGENCY $20 MILLION TO ENABLE IT INCREASE ITS CAPACITY TO MEET THE SURGE IN DEMAND FOR ITS SERVICES, MR CHAU SAID.

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"IN 1990, WE LAUNCHED A QUALITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. CAMPAIGN IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE APPRECIATION OF QUALITY ISSUES AMONG HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURERS.

"ANOTHER IMPORTANT VEHICLE FOR PUTTING ACROSS THE QUALITY MESSAGE IS THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR INDUSTRY," MR CHAU SAID.

"THE 'QUALITY' CATEGORY OF THE AWARD RECOGNISES AND REWARDS MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE PRACTISED EFFECTIVE QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES, AND WHOSE PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED TO A HIGH STANDARD OF QUALITY.

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MR CHAU SAID GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVE TOWARDS BETTER QUALITY WAS NOT LIMITED TO ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

/"THE INDUSTRY