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A task force on the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) will be set up to look into the basic planning parameters within which the Institute will operate.

The establishment of ASTRI, as announced in the 1998 Policy Address, is the Government's attempt to support and boost mid-stream research and development, a pivotal step between basic research and its commercial application.

"The task force will advise the Secretary for Trade and Industry on the mission of the Institute," said a Government spokesman.

"One of its major tasks is to work out the mechanism for the formulation of ASTRI's research programmes and its linkage with industry and academia.

"Advising the Secretary on the mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the work of ASTRI is also one of the objectives of the task force," he added.

The task force will be chaired by the Director-General of Industry, Mr Francis Ho, and comprise members from the Trade and Industry Bureau, academic and industrial sectors.

"With their experience and expertise, members will contribute greatly to the work of the task force," the spokesman said.

Other members of the task force include:

* Dr Albert Chang, Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology;

* Professor H K Chang, President of the City University of Hong Kong;

* Professor Edward Chen, President of the Lingnan College;

* Professor Otto Lin, Vice-president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology;

* Dr William Lo, Chief Executive Officer(Hong Kong), Global Consumer Banking, Citibank N.A.;

* Mr Allan Wong, Chairman of Vtech; and

* Ms Cheung Siu-hing, Deputy Secretary for Trade and Industry.

End/Wednesday, November 11, 1998

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