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Forum Facilitates Experience Exchange between Design Professionals and Manufacturers

Over 150 manufacturers, engineers and designers attended a forum organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today (11 April 2005) to share their experience on how to leverage on design, innovation and branding as strategic tools to increase their competitiveness and tap new business opportunities.

Entitled "Designed in Hong Kong, Manufactured in PRD", the two-day forum (11-12 April 2005) is funded by the Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme (PSDAS) of the HKSAR Government, with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) as co-organizer. Supporting organizations include the Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA), Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), The Industry Designers Society of Hong Kong (IDSHK), the School of Design of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) and the Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering Division of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), as well as 17 trade associations from local and the Mainland.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Edmund Sung, Director (Business Productivity) of HKPC, said, "Innovation and design are key elements for a company to gain a leading edge in today's competitive environment. As local industry evolves from original equipment manufacturing (OEM) to original design manufacturing (ODM) and original brand manufacturing (OBM), product design is playing an important role in this transformation."

"In addition, to fully leverage on the advantages arising from the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), products made in Hong Kong are expected to have a higher intellectual property and creativity content as a major part of their added value. Product design will clearly become a critical success factor for local industries that stand to benefit most from CEPA, including electrical appliances, consumer electronics, automotive components, watches and clocks, jewellery, spectacles, toys and clothing," Mr Sung said.

"Over the years, local designers have combined creative ideas with business strategy and technology to add value to products and eventually promote the brand profiles of companies. In the years to come, local designers will continue to play a vital role in helping Hong Kong enterprises, particularly those in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, to move up the value chain," he added.

Officiating guest at the ceremony also included Ms Sarah Kwok, Deputy Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR Government.

Speakers at the Forum included Mr Charles Ng, Chairman of HKDA; Mr Douglas Young, Founder & CEO of G.O.D.; Mr Yuan Wei Lun, Director of Science and Technology Bureau of Shunde District, Foshan City, PRC; Mr Chen Wei Heng, Chairman of Shunde Furniture Association, PRC; Mr He Yong Niu, Chairman of Shunde Le Cong Furniture Association; Mr Ou Yi Yong, Guangdong Industrial Design Association, PRC; Mr Chu Hom, Vice-Chairman of Shenzhen Design Union, PRC; Mr Chen Yao Shen, Donguang Furniture Association, PRC; Mr Chen Xiang You, Chairman of Dongguan Toys Association, PRC; Mr Yu Jie, General Manager and Design Director of Foshan Shunde Loma Industrial Design Co Ltd, PRC; Mr Samson Tam, Chairman of Group Sense (International) Ltd.; Mr Patrick Hui, Design Director of Designext; Prof Li Yiwen, College of Art & Design, Shenzhen University, PRC; Mr Liu Ge, Committee Member of International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA); Mr Dominic Ho, Chairman of IDSHK and Managing Director of Design Square & Associates; Mr Dewitt Chik, Chairman of the IDSHK Program Committee and Project Director of Witt Design Network; Ms Elaine Ann, Council Member of IDSHK and Founder/Director of Kaizor Innovation; Mr Kan Tai-keung, the World's Outstanding Chinese Designer (2004) and Creative Director of Kan&Lau Design Consultants; Mr Alan Yip, Director of Yip Design Ltd; Mr Henry Lui, Executive Committee Members of HKDA and Design Consultant of Rainfield Consumer Products Ltd; Mr Angus Wong, Executive Committee Member of HKDA and Creative Director of Angus Designs; and Mr Fritz Chiu, Principle Consultant (Information Technology Industry Development) of HKPC.

For further information on the Forum, please contact HKPC's Ms Brenda Lee at (852) 2788 5912 or e-mail to brenda@hkpc.org.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications and Events
Tel: (852) 2788 5036
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
E-mail: emilyc@hkpc.org

HKPC
11 April 2005