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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the 2007 Hong Kong Awards for Industries presentation ceremony this evening (January 23):
Professor Poon (Chung-kwong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to join you tonight for the Hong Kong Awards for Industries. It is a pleasure to be here to celebrate the success of our leading lights from the manufacturing and services sectors. This year's winners once again highlight the versatility of our enterprises and their ability to embrace the latest advanced technologies and to produce new, high value-added products and services.
It is a priority of my administration to promote an enabling business environment in our city. As I mentioned in my Policy Address last October, I will insist on promoting economic development as our primary goal. We have a long-established and highly effective framework in place - a dedicated and clean administration, a level playing field for business, a tried and trusted legal system, the free flow of information, low tax rates and a simple tax system, as well as a highly educated and motivated labour force. We are also working hard to sharpen our competitive edge with plans to lower profits and salaries tax. We are raising the quality of our human capital through education reforms, re-training, and by attracting talent from overseas and the Mainland. These are some of the best ways to promote competition and innovation to maintain a robust economy.
Our main competitive advantage is our close relationship with the Mainland - a relationship that grows stronger by the day. Earlier this month, CEPA was expanded to cover 38 services areas, including 11 new services sectors. CEPA is an ongoing commitment that provides enhanced access to the Mainland market for Hong Kongˇ¦s goods and services. This is a golden opportunity for Hong Kong businesses.
In a broader context, globalisation presents new opportunities, as well as challenges, in an ever-changing international market place. Our businesses must compete on the basis of the quality of their products and services, as well as customer recognition. Tonight's award winners are trendsetters for industry in areas such as service standards, quality control, innovation, technology, design, and production facilities. And, they are expert in image building, branding and securing customer loyalty. Success these days also comes with social and environmental responsibilities that must be met in order to achieve sustainable progress.
Hong Kong's industrialists have a well-earned reputation for grasping opportunities and rising to new challenges. They have been able to harness the world famous "can do" spirit of the Hong Kong people with some pretty impressive results.
Here's how the government is helping to turn our "can do" spirit into action. We have the Innovation and Technology Fund and the Small and Medium Enterprises Funding Schemes to help our firms move up the value chain, upgrade their facilities and develop their own brands. We have dedicated R&D facilities and we are expanding the Science Park to help industry remain at the forefront of advanced technologies. Our industry support bodies have also been encouraging businesses to enhance their management and technological capabilities, strive for creativity and innovation and explore new markets as well as being more eco-friendly. With government and industry working together I am confident we can achieve much.
This evening's event is a celebration of outstanding achievements, and the pursuit of excellence. I applaud your dedication and hard work. These awards cover seven categories which reflect the areas in which enterprises must excel to maintain our overall competitiveness.
I congratulate all the award winners. You are setting the pace for others to follow. I thank the seven leading organisers and the judging panel for their efforts in staging this year's awards. And I wish you all a very successful year ahead - and early wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Thank you.
Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:02
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