ENG-1981 — Page 61

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

technology transfer and other industrial development services. It also conducts a wide range of training programmes in industrial technology, management techniques and electronic data processing.

The centre's facilities include eight classrooms, electronic data processing facilities, a low cost automation unit, an industrial chemistry laboratory, a metal finishing laboratory, a heat treatment unit, an environmental control laboratory, a technical reference library and an on-line information retrieval service.

The centre was engaged during the year in detailed planning of new industry support services. A series of proposals aimed at providing an improved support base for industry were submitted to the government. Funding was approved for an expanded technical information service; the initial phase of starting a metals industry development unit; and a small and medium industry extension advisory service. The Industrial Development Board approved the centre's proposals to carry out a techno-economic study on the electronics industry and to enlarge its Microprocessor Application Laboratory.

The year under review saw a further expansion of most of the centre's services. There was an increased demand for consultancy services both from local and overseas investors. The centre was also increasingly called upon by the government to undertake techno-economic research projects involving different skills and inter-divisional team work. Notable among these were the Junk Bay Survey, the techno-economic study on the metals and light engineering sectors and a survey on staggered working hours and flexitime commissioned by the government.

The response to the on-line retrieval service, which provides instant access, by computer- linked satellites, to some 150 data bases world-wide, was encouraging. Clients served included various government departments, manufacturing and construction companies, engineering firms and academic institutions. The long established current awareness system was renamed 'HKPC Infosearch Abstracts' to include a more comprehensive coverage of abstracts from current technical and management literature from English and Chinese language periodicals. The centre publishes two quarterly bilingual bulletins on plastics and furniture technology. A specialised environmental control bulletin was being developed and plans were in progress to set up similar units to serve the metals/light engineering and electronic sectors.

The centre has offered an environmental control service on a limited scale for several years, but during the year under review, this activity was incorporated into a major aspect of the Small and Medium Industry Extension Advisory Service. Building on the basis of the Environmental Control Service, the centre intends to expand the Small and Medium Industry Extension Advisory Service to advise industry in other related areas, such as energy conservation and waste recycling.

During the year, the centre organised 310 training courses, covering different aspects of management; advanced programming and EDP appreciation courses; and a diversified range of technology programmes for such industries as textiles and garments, plastics, metal work- ing, electrical and electronic products, building and construction. It completed over 220 con- sultancy and technical assistance projects and organised three industrial exhibitions on mi- croprocessor technology, garment equipment and metal finishing. It sponsored four study missions and continued its publication programmes to provide up-to-date information on Hong Kong industry, trade, employment, salaries and technology transfer opportunities.

As a member of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Hong Kong was represen- ted at the 1981 meeting of the Governing Body in Tokyo. The centre, on behalf of Hong Kong, hosted a regional seminar on Product Design in May 1981.