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Following is the full text of the speech by the Secretary for Works, Mr Kwong Hon-sang, at the EMSD's 50th Anniversary Reception at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, San Kwong Road, Happy Valley today (Friday):

Financial Secretary, Mr Phillipson, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. EMSD may not be a household name in Hong Kong, but it is certainly an indispensable arm of the Government's daily operations.

A significant achievement of the Department in the past five decades has been its ability to continuously upgrade the quality and technical excellence of its workforce. This enables the Department to meet the fast changing development of Hong Kong and the technological requirements that come with it. This is important in discharging their statutory duties for the regulation of gas safety, electricity safety, lift and escalator safety, energy conservation and related matters. ISO 9000 certification is but another example of this heritage.

Indeed, the Works Bureau has been encouraging all those in the Works Group of departments to develop and maintain suitable quality management systems in order to ensure a high quality in their work. In line with this policy, EMSD embarked on an ambitious ISO programme in 1993. Its overall target is to obtain a total of 17 ISO certificates, including a corporate certificate, by the year 2000. To date, they are more than half-way through, by having obtained a total of 9 certificates, with the most recent one being on vehicle engineering services. This quality assurance programme is definitely contributing to the high standards achieved in their operations and businesses.

We are truly proud of the Department's outstanding contribution to the public sector and the community over the past decades. I am also pleased to note that the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund has been performing well since evolving from the EMSD in 1996 as a self-supporting business entity, providing a quality, reliable, efficient and cost-effective service to all government departments and public organisations.

I would like to congratulate all EMSD staff on their excellent work. I am pleased that they have set a fine example for other departments to follow. Their hard work will not go unnoticed by their customers.

On this happy occasion of its 50th Anniversary, I sincerely wish the EMSD every success in its business and endeavours as they face the greater challenges ahead.

Thank you.

End/Friday, October 30, 1998

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