ENG-1968 — Page 82

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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as shipbuilding continues to be important, Hong Kong is best known for the competitive price and range of its light industrial products and their rapidly improving quality.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY

The rapid industrialization which has taken place in Hong Kong during the past 20 years has brought with it an increasing need to improve the utilization of all industrial resources, particularly that of manpower. Following intensive study by industry and Govern- ment and much preparatory work by a representative Working Committee and later a Provisional Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Productivity Council was established by statute in January 1967. The council comprises a chairman and 20 members, all appointed by the Governor, of whom 10 members represent manage- ment, labour, academic and professional interests. The other 10 members represent government departments closely associated with productivity matters.

The terms of reference of the council are wide ranging and are aimed at promoting by all means possible increased productivity of industry in Hong Kong. To achieve this, the council works in close co-operation with other organizations active in this field, such as the Hong Kong Management Association. The council formally established a Productivity Centre on April 1, 1967 to continue and intensify the work initiated by a provisional centre established in April 1966. Over 50 professional and administrative officers had been appointed to the staff of the centre by the end of 1968 and recruitment continues. The new centre is located in Gloucester Building in the heart of the business district of Hong Kong.

By the beginning of 1968 the provisional centre had established sufficient facilities to support an intensive programme of produc- tivity training and consultation for industry, and courses of training had commenced. During 1968, 22 training courses and study missions were arranged by the centre, involving participation by some 650 persons. Many of the local courses were run in conjunc- tion with the University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, while some of the overseas courses were organized in conjunction with the Asian Productivity Organization and the