Speech by Secretary for Trade and Industry

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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay, at the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre Ltd's 35th Anniversary Cocktail Celebration today (Thursday):

Mr Turnbull, Mr Tang, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am both delighted and honoured to speak at this happy occasion. Staying in business for 35 years is an achievement; staying in a thriving business for the duration is even more so, and certainly calls for celebration.

Over the past few decades, we have seen a tremendous growth in the demand for product testing, certification and inspection services. This is in keeping with the increased sophistication of our economy. At the individual level, the consumer is more discerning than ever with regard to quality and safety of products. Consumer awareness and expectation have made it important for manufacturers and suppliers alike to pay attention to product standards.

At a more macro level, the society as a whole now demands products which are safe to use and consume. To reflect this trend, there is a general tightening of consumer protection legislation worldwide. While governments stipulate the safety requirements to comply with, in many cases the private sector has the responsibility for performing the actual testing, certification and inspection work. The opportunities generated for the standards and testing industry are therefore immense. This has been further strengthened by the sophistication and diversification of product range and type that intense competition has brought about. As a result of the plentiful choices available, customers tend to demand demonstration of compliance with quality and safety standards even with products which may not be specifically regulated by legislation.

Product testing, certification and inspection are also an important part of our trading process. This has special relevance to Hong Kong, well known for being a trading entity. As a staunch believer in free trade, we share the belief of many international organizations or entities such as the World Trade Organization, the European Union and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation that testing, certification and inspection services have an important role to play in facilitating free trade and in promoting industrialization. We strongly support calls for the use of transparent testing, certification and inspection procedures, based on common international standards, as the basis on which goods and services are accepted across borders. That would obviate the need for multiple testing when a product moves from one economy to another. The time and resources saved facilitate trade and ultimately benefit suppliers and consumers alike.

It is therefore only natural that the Government is committed to promoting a quality culture and supporting a credible testing, certification and inspection service industry which operates in accordance with international standards. These are vital to our continued competitiveness. To back up our commitment, the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme was set up in 1985. The Scheme has now accredited 75 laboratories, including the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre. The Scheme has also concluded agreements which allow for mutual recognition of test reports with 21 overseas accreditation schemes. These agreements are important for promoting confidence in the technical competence of Hong Kong laboratories.

To upgrade the services provided by the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme and to expand its scope to cover accreditation of certification bodies, the Government is taking active steps to set up the Hong Kong Accreditation Service in November 1998. The Hong Kong Accreditation Service will provide new services for the accreditation of ISO 9000 certification bodies, inspection bodies, product certification bodies and environment management system certification bodies. This new initiative will further strengthen our quality assurance image. It will also demonstrate to our trading partners that Hong Kong is a major provider of quality goods and services capable of complying with stringent international standards.

The Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre Ltd has been one of the pioneers in the provision of testing and evaluation services. For 35 years the Centre has contributed tremendously to the development of a quality culture in Hong Kong, helping businesses to understand and achieve the necessary standards in their markets. In doing so, the Centre has also played a useful role in strengthening Hong Kong's status as a major centre for international trade.

May I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone of you at the Centre for your achievements over the years. I am sure that you will sustain your excellent work in the years to come. Hong Kong will continue to rely on the services offered by laboratories and agencies such as yours to help us compete and excel in the international market place in the next millennium.

Thank you.

End/Thursday, August 6, 1998

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