XN000022-1997-01-24 — Page 25

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The Productivity Award category, run by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, promotes endeavours to achieve improved productivity.

The Quality Award category, organised by the Industry Department, recognises quality achievements in manufacturing operations.

The Environmental Performance Award category, run by the Private Sector Committee on the Environment, promotes a wider appreciation of the importance of environmental protection among Hong Kong companies.

The Export Marketing Award category, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, recognises the importance of export marketing strategies, methods and techniques in expanding and opening markets abroad.

Entries are invited every year and the best entry in each award category will be presented with the Hong Kong Awards for Industry.

Organisers of the various categories may also give their own awards in each award category or confer certificates of merit on deserving entries.

The closing date for entries in all seven categories is May 15. The presentation ceremony of the 1997 Awards will be held in early November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Also speaking at the press conference was the Director-General of Industry, Mr Francis Ho, who introduced the Quality Award category.

Mr Ho said the Quality Award was a formal recognition of those manufacturers who had demonstrated outstanding performance in the quality of their products, and in the implementation of effective quality systems in their management and operation.

"The success of the Award is demonstrated not only by the increasing number of entrants year on year, but also by the increasing diversity of industries participating in the competition.

"As in previous years, the competition is open to all Hong Kong-based companies whose products have been wholly or partially manufactured in Hong Kong during the year prior to the closing date for entries. All applicants must have a valid local business registration certificate," he said.

Mr Ho said entries for the Quality Award will be evaluated on two main criteria, namely product quality and quality management system.