Press Release

 

 

Speech by Secretary for Commerce and Industry

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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Mr CHAU Tak Hay, at the Grand Opening Ceremony for New Yuen Long Plant of Toppan Forms (HK) Ltd. today (February 12) (English only):

Mr Fukuda, Mr Kato, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to attend the opening ceremony for Toppan Forms (HK) Ltd.'s new Yuen Long plant today.

I am sure that many would agree when I say that Toppan Forms is a shining example of enterprise and vision. Toppan started out as a manufacturer of computer forms in 1972 and has over the years expanded and diversified into a wide range of businesses. Today, Toppan is not only a leading forms supplier in Hong Kong, but also a key provider of a full range of value-added products and services. Foreseeing the growing popularity of smart cards, the Company will also make a substantial investment to develop and enhance smart card production technologies.

The development of Toppan Forms (HK) Ltd. reminds me of the economic transformation of our own city. We too started out as a base for traditional manufacturing industries. But today Hong Kong is known to the world as a high value-added manufacturing and service hub of the region.

The Government is keenly aware that, in this increasingly competitive world of ours, the ability to adopt new technology and innovative strategies is the only way for Hong Kong to stay competitive. We have put in place a wide range of infrastructural, funding and other support services to help build Hong Kong into a centre of innovation and technology in the region. In particular, our industrial estates have played a key role in broadening Hong Kong's industrial base and upgrading its technology level. I am therefore glad to see that Toppan has cast a vote of confidence on us again, by increasing its investment in Hong Kong and establishing its state-of-the-art printing and finishing facilities in the Yuen Long Industrial Estate.

The printing and publishing industry is an important sector of Hong Kong's economy. It employs some 44 000 workers or 19.3 per cent of the total manufacturing workforce. In 2000, the industry's output accounted for about $4.3 billion or 2.6 per cent of Hong Kong's total domestic exports. I am confident that Toppan will continue to play a leading role in this sector and help promote the technological upgrading of our printing industry.

On this happy occasion, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Toppan and to wish Toppan every success in the years to come.

Thank you.

End/Monday, February 12, 2001

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