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Following is the speech by Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, at Hong Kong Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association's 45th Anniversary and Charity Ball today (February 24):
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have great pleasure to join you tonight to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Hong Kong Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association. I reckon that the gathering tonight is not merely a celebration of almost half a century's success in the development of Hong Kong's jewellery industry, but also a fund-raising event for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, which makes it an even more memorable and meaningful occasion.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the Jewellery and Jade Manufacturers Association for its contributions and endeavours since its establishment in 1965. Among the many significant endeavours, the association has contributed much to the growth of Hong Kong's jewellery industry by providing an essential jadeite and gemstone identification service and the introduction of training courses for craftsmen in the trade.
Since the enactment of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance in 1981, the association has been supportive of the enforcement activities of the Customs and Excise Department for better protection of consumers when purchasing articles of jewellery. In 2004 and 2005, the department initiated the "Jewellery Integrity Campaign"（珠寶玉石誠信計劃）and "No Fakes Pledge"（正版正貨承諾行動）which aimed to build up a self-regulating mechanism in the industry through the adoption of clear trade descriptions in jade and diamond articles at the retail level. The association gave immense support in the promotion of the campaigns. It helped organise meetings, seminars and training sessions for members of the industry. It also provided expert advice and laboratory tests to facilitate investigation and prosecution against counterfeit jade and diamond products. The association's efforts made the campaign a great success. In the latest exercise to update the ordinance and its subsidiary legislation in early 2008 to regulate the retail of "fei cui" （翡翠）and diamond articles, the association gave valuable views to the Bills Committee to balance the interests of the retail industry and the interests of consumers.
The global economic downturn has inevitably affected the jewellery trade worldwide in the first half of 2009. As signs of economic recovery are acknowledged by country leaders and economists, the jewellery trade is beginning to see increased activity. The recent Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair 2009 held in September was a case in point. More than 3,000 exhibitors from 44 countries and regions were participating, making the fair the largest jewellery event in the world.
Hong Kong jewellers have been actively exploring new business opportunities. Besides their deep knowledge of the jewellery trade, our jewellery manufacturers can count among their blessings a gigantic market in mainland China. With an increasingly affluent population of 1.3 billion, the Mainland presents huge market potential for luxury goods. As the Mainland market grows and consumers' tastes become more sophisticated, I am confident that our jewellers will stand in good stead and strive to maintain high quality design and finished products, and at the same time innovate with a view to commanding a growing share of the Mainland and even world market.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a most enjoyable evening, and a happy 45th anniversary. Thank you.
Ends/Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 23:05
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