XN000022-1992-09-21 — Page 6

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1992

PLASTICS INDUSTRY TAKES ON KEY ROLE

THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY IS PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN HONG KONG AS THE TERRITORY'S INDUSTRIES BECOME MORE COMPLEX AND MORE INTRICATELY LINKED BOTH WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH INDUSTRIES ACROSS THE BORDER.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF INDUSTRY, MR T H BARMA, AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW PREMISES OF THE HONG KONG PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION LTD IN WAN CHAI.

THE

HE SAID QUITE APART FROM BEING AN INDUSTRY IN ITS OWN RIGHT PRODUCING TOYS, HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND UTENSILS, AND OTHER ITEMS PLASTICS INDUSTRY WAS A VITAL ANCILLARY TO HONG KONG'S OTHER INDUSTRIES, WHICH GAINED MUCH OF THEIR COMPETITIVENESS FROM HAVING A FAST, RESPONSIVE AND FLEXIBLE PLASTICS INDUSTRY WITHIN HONG KONG.

"MOST OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES RELY ON PLASTIC IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER: THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, USES IT FOR CASINGS AND COMPONENTS; THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES USE IT FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS; AND PRACTICALLY ALL INDUSTRIES USE IT FOR PACKAGING IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, HE SAID.

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MR BARMA SAID THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY AND ITS ABILITY ΤΟ MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHER INDUSTRIES HAD IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS COMPUTER-ASSISTED DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING, AND NEW MOULDING

TECHNIQUES.

"THESE FACILITIES, COMBINED WITH OUTWARD PROCESSING, QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION IN DESIGN, HAVE ENABLED THE INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE ITS VALUE ADDED AND PRODUCTIVITY, HE SAID.

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MR BARMA SAID THE CONSIDERABLE EXPERTISE IN PLASTICS ACCUMULATED WITHIN HONG KONG HAD MADE THE TERRITORY A CENTRE LINKAGE INDUSTRIES NECESSARY TO THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY.

THAT HAD FOR THE

"HONG KONG IS NOW AN

IMPORTANT BASE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MOULDS AND MACHINERY FOR THE REGION.

INVESTMENTS IN

"INCREASINGLY, IT IS ATTRACTING MAJOR OVERSEAS TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF RAW MATERIALS FOR THE INDUSTRY.

"COMPANIES ARE WELL PLACED ΤΟ BE ABLE ΤΟ BUILD ON THESE STRENGTHS THROUGH THEIR OWN EFFORTS, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SERVICES SUCH AS THE PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, THE HONG TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AND THE FUTURE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AND SCHEME," HE SAID.

KONG PLASTICS

APPLIED R & D

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