XN000022-1995-09-15 — Page 4

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Mr Dale congratulated Au Posford Consultants Ltd, in association with Rotterdam Municipal Port Management, Marine Safety Rotterdam, Risk & Policy Analysts Ltd and Axis Environmental Consultants Ltd, for putting a fine technical package at a competitive price.

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Mr Dale is confident that in 15 months' time the consultancy team, with the support of the Marine Department staff, and guidance through the members of the Port Development Board Committee for Strategic Planning for Hong Kong Waters, will have achieved the target of a sustainable long-term strategy for the development of Hong Kong's marine activities.

End/Friday, September 15, 1995

STI attends ministerial meeting in Australia

The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr Chau Tak-hay, has participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) held in Adelaide, Australia, yesterday and today (September 14 and 15).

The meeting, chaired by the Minister for Small Business, Customs and Construction of Australia, Senator Chris Schacht, was attended by 18 APEC economies, namely, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and the United States.

At the meeting, member economies shared their experience in tackling problems and challenges faced by SMEs in adjusting to an increasingly globalised and free trade environment.

Mr Chau said: "For a basically high-cost, high-skill economy such as Hong Kong, the key to the continued success of SMEs lies in productivity enhancement, covering both increasing operational efficiency and increasing the value we add to our products.

"In the case of Hong Kong," Mr Chau added: "SMEs represent 98 per cent of our enterprises. SMES are not just a business sector, but are the bedrock of our economy."

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