ENG-1993 — Page 120

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

The HKITCC's support services in the transfer of technology locally and internationally are an additional benefit to its tenants. The HKITCC sponsors and organises technology transfer and innovative technology seminars. It intends to establish links with tertiary institutions and industrial support organisations to facilitate technology transfer among companies in the programme and local industry. Through its technology transfer support services, the HKITCC assists tenants by brokering and licensing technology, and by providing referrals for research, design and development contract services.

Hong Kong Productivity Council

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There was a growing demand during the year for the Hong Kong Productivity Council's (HKPC) consultancy and technical support services.

The HKPC was established by statute in 1967 to promote increased productivity in Hong Kong industry. It is financed by an annual government subvention and by fees earned from its services. The council consists of a chairman and 22 members appointed by the Governor. Its membership is drawn from the management, labour, academic and professional fields and from the government.

The HKPC has about 500 staff members with expertise in a wide range of disciplines. It provides a variety of training programmes, industrial and management consultancies and technical support services using resources available in its 17 operational divisions: computer services, electronics services, automation services, quality and management, computer-aided design services, chemical and metallurgical, manufacturing engineering, textiles and apparel, business management services, training, environmental management, information services, human resources, development and administration, public relations, marketing and accounting.

During the year, the council undertook 1 208 consultancy projects, covering, among other items, feasibility studies, production management, new plant projects, environmental management, quality management, product design and development, and industrial automation services.

To facilitate the transition to high value-added production, the HKPC invited local companies to join consortia to share the design and development costs of new products. Three consortium projects were completed successfully. These involved 30 local companies in the design and development of a notebook computer, a 900-megahertz indoor cordless telephone, and a palmtop computer with the most advanced application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) ever developed in Hong Kong.

The HKPC put together a consortium of eight local companies to transfer 3D laser stereolithography (SLA) technology from the United States of America. The SLA machine facilitates rapid prototyping, and is crucial for Hong Kong's manufacturing sector in keeping abreast of competition in the area of marketing and product design.

The HKPC organised 693 training courses for 13 980 participants, covering management and supervisory techniques, advanced programming and electronic data processing, and a range of technology programmes for various industries. In-plant courses continued to be popular and 134 programmes were organised during the year to meet the specific training needs of individual companies.

Twelve overseas study missions were organised for local industrialists to gain first-hand information on the latest technology and management techniques practised in various

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