TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Industrial Estate will be completed in 1997 and will provide 46.6 hectares of land. A fourth industrial estate is planned to meet future demands of industries that cannot be accommodated in multi-storey factory buildings.
Technical Education and Industrial Training
The Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides technical education and industrial training and administers a New Technology Training Scheme which provides financial assistance to employers to train their technologists and managers in new technologies. The Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) runs two training centres for clothing and footwear. The department is represented on the VTC and the CITA. Higher-level education and training are provided by the tertiary education institutions.
Technology
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967 to promote improvement in productivity in industries. The Hong Kong Industrial Technology Centre Corporation (HKITCC) was established to facilitate the promotion of technological innovation and the application of technologies in Hong Kong industries.
Through the Industrial Support Fund scheme set up in 1994, the government provides financial support to projects that contribute to Hong Kong's industrial and technological development. By October 1996, it had committed $765 million for 211 projects undertaken by industry associations, higher-education institutes and industrial support organisations.
Quality Services
The department's Quality Services Division promotes the wider application of quality assurance in the manufacturing and service sectors and maintains important quality infrastructure services. The Hong Kong Government Standards and Calibration Laboratory is the official custodian of Hong Kong's measurement standards. providing traceability for local measurements.
The Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme offers formal recognition to competent local laboratories and facilitates the acceptance of local test certificates overseas. The Product Standards Information Bureau is the reference point for information on various national and international product standards.
Applied Research and Development
Major efforts have been made to encourage applied research and development in recent years. The Applied R&D Scheme, started in February 1993, seeks to foster the technological capabilities and competitiveness of industry. Funding support can take the form of a loan or equity participation. At October 1, 1996, 18 applied research and product development projects had been approved for funding, with a commitment of $64 million, in areas such as software development, telecom- munications products, security systems and pharmaceutical products. In June 1995, a new scheme called Co-operative Applied Research and Development Scheme was launched to support product development projects undertaken in collaboration with China's research institutes. At October 1, 1996, four projects in the fields of
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