HKPC Organizes Automotive Industry Seminar and Hong Kong Pavilion in Shenzhen to Promote Technology and Business Collaboration

To promote technology and business partnership between Hong Kong and Mainland automotive industry sectors, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) organised a seminar and the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Shenzhen International Automobile Electronics and Articles Fair in Shenzhen. Both events were officially opened today (2 June 2005) at the China Hi-Tech Fair Exhibition Center.

Over 300 participants from the automobile electronics sectors in the Mainland and Hong Kong attended the 'Seminar on Exploration of the Trend of International Automotive Electronics and Review of Automotive Industry Development in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Changchun'. The event was jointly organised by the SZ-HK Productivity Foundation and the Shenzhen Federation of Industrial Economics, with the Shenzhen Bureau of Trade and Industry, Shenzhen Bureau of Development and Reform, Shenzhen Bureau of Science, Technology and Information, the Economic Committee of Changchun, Wuhan Bureau of Science and Technology, and HKPC as supporting organisations.

Speaking at the opening of the Seminar, Mr K K Yeung, Executive Director of HKPC, said, "The increasing use of electronics and the development of Smart cars have evolved as the major trends in automotive technologies. In fact electronic parts have already accounted for more than 20% and 50% of the production costs of a mid-range car and a high-end model respectively."

"According to a market study by Strategy Analytics, the world automobile electronics market is expected to grow from US$120 billion in 2004 to US$160 billion in 2008. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, on the other hand, said that in 2005 the Mainland market is estimated at RMB 300 billion,” Mr Yeung said.

"Automotive and electronics are the fastest growing sectors in China. As a convergence of both worlds, the automobile electronics industry will no doubt drive the growth of China's economy," he said.

Introducing HKPC's work in supporting the automotive components industry in Hong Kong, Mr Yeung said, "HKPC will host the Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre initiated by the HKSAR Government. With automobile electronics among its technology foci, the R&D Centre will develop related products and technologies, facilitate collaboration among Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas companies in technology transfer, tapping the burgeoning Mainland automobile electronics market."

HKPC's support services for the automotive components industry, as well as the latest products and services of Hong Kong companies in the industry were presented at the Hong Kong Pavilion at the China Shenzhen International Automobile Electronics and Articles Fair, held from 1 to 5 June 2005.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion, Mr Samson Tam, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, said, "Backed by their technological capabilities and experience in metals, plastics and electronics industries, Hong Kong companies have already expanded into the international market."

"In 2004, Hong Kong exported more than HK$10 billion's worth of automotive components, with major markets in the US, Germany, and Japan - the car production giants. Hong Kong products have surely fulfilled the stringent requirements of the international automotive industry," Mr Tam said.

"As a showcase of the latest products and technologies from 18 automotive components manufacturers, industry organisations and research institutes in Hong Kong, as well as the services of the Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre, the Hong Kong Pavilion provides an ideal platform for Hong Kong and Shenzhen companies to explore business collaboration and partnership," he said.

Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Mr Xu Yang, Vice Chairman of Shenzhen Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Mr Zhang Wanjie, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Bureau of Trade and Industry, Shenzhen Municipal People's Government; Mr Wang Youming, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Bureau of Science, Technology and Information; Dr K B Chan, Chairman, Automobile Components Group, Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Mr William Ng, Honorary President of SAE-HK and President of the Hong Kong Mould & Die Technology Association, and Mr K K Yeung.

A highlight of the Seminar today was The Policy Summit on automotive industry development policies in Shenzhen, Changchun, Wuhan and Hong Kong, with Mr Wang Yaning, Deputy Director of Wuhan Bureau of Science and Technology; Mr Li Zhibao, Director of the Economic Committee of Changchun; Mr Zhang Wanjie, and Mrs Sarah Kwok, Acting Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR Government, as speakers, and Mr K K Yeung as moderator.

An industry networking dinner was held after The Policy Summit. Joining the 100 industry representatives from the automotive industry sectors from Hong Kong and the Mainland were Mr Liu Yingli, Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen; Mr Cui Jie, Deputy Executive Mayor of Changchun; Mr Francis Ho, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, HKSAR Government, and Mr Andrew Leung, Member of Legislative Council and Chairman of HKPC.

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2 June 2005