XN000022-1992-12-07 — Page 8

7

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1992

то НЕ

THE

LEADING SOURCE

MR BARMA SAID JAPAN CONTINUED

OF INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, ACCOUNTING FOR 32 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL.

"THE UNITED STATES (28 PER CENT OF TOTAL) AND CHINA (11 PER CENT) WERE THE SECOND AND THIRD LARGEST OVERSEAS INVESTORS RESPECTIVELY. AUSTRALIA (6 PER CENT) JUMPED TO THE FOURTH PLACE FROM THE SEVENTH IN 1990," HE SAID.

MR BARMA SAID INVESTMENTS FROM THESE "BIG FOUR" HAD ALL INCREASED IN 1991 COMPARED WITH 1990 THOUGH THE RATE OF INCREASE VARIED FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.

"THE ELECTRONICS, ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, TEXTILES AND CLOTHING AND TOBACCO INDUSTRIES TOGETHER ACCOUNTED FOR 60 PER CENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENT LAST YEAR," HE SAID.

MR BARMA SAID THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO INTERESTED IN THE QUALITY OF SUCH INVESTMENT.

"WE BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURERS MUST UPGRADE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, AND THE AIM OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT'S INWARD INVESTMENT PROMOTION PROGRAMME IS TO ENCOURAGE OVERSEAS INVESTORS ΤΟ INTRODUCE TO HONG KONG, THROUGH THEIR INVESTMENTS, NEW OR IMPROVED PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGY,. DESIGNS AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, HE SAID.

MR BARMA SAID ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE 536 COMPANIES WITH AN OVERSEAS INTEREST WERE JOINT VENTURES WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, A FORM OF CO-OPERATION WHICH PROVIDED A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

"IN ABOUT THE SAME PROPORTION OF COMPANIES, STAFF HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED FROM THE OVERSEAS PARENT COMPANY то PROVIDE GUIDANCE OR ASSISTANCE IN AREAS SUCH AS COMPANY MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

"319 COMPANIES (60 PER CENT) REPORTED THAT THEY EITHER LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE OVERSEAS PARENT COMPANY, OR RECEIVED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR HELP IN ACQUIRING MACHINERY EQUIPMENT FROM THEM.

HAD

HAD

AND

"MOREOVER, 90 COMPANIES (17 PER CENT), ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, REPORTED THAT OVERSEAS INVESTORS HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TRANSFER OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

"CLEARLY, THEREFORE, OVERSEAS INVESTMENT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ASSISTING THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING SECTOR то UPGRADE ITS PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES AND THE QUALITY OF ITS PRODUCTS,' HE SAID.

I

TOOK

MR BARMA SAID THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ALSO OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THE VIEWS OF OVERSEAS INVESTORS ON ATTRACTIVENESS OF HONG KONG AS A MANUFACTURING BASE.

THE

THE

/WHEN ASKED