HKPC Forges Into the 40th Year With Vitality

Established in 1967, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is forging into its 40th year. To mark its four decades of services to the local manufacturing and business communities, HKPC today (11 May, 2006) unveiled the "HKPC - Into the 40th Year" Programme, scheduled for May to October 2006. The Programme includes a Productivity Conference Series, the opening of the Productivity Enhancement Showcase, and the installation of a Productivity Time Capsule at the HKPC Building.

Speaking at the launch press conference, Dr Samson Tam, Chairman of the Steering Committee of "HKPC - Into the 40th Year" Programme and Deputy Chairman of HKPC said, "Over the past 40 years, together with industry, HKPC has provided services to meet the needs of changing times."

"In the 60s, we focused on the provision of training to nurture a new generation of SME manufacturers. In the 70s, we helped local industry shift towards high value-added manufacturing through technology transfer. With the relocation of manufacturing operations to the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in the 80s, we promoted the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and management systems to enterprises to support their cross-border operations," he said.

"As Hong Kong entered a new era of economic development in the 90s, we strengthened our support for industry in innovation, technology upgrading and benchmarking. Today, as Hong Kong industry is being confronted with new challenges brought about by globalization and rising production costs in the PRD, HKPC has taken on a changing role to enhance the competitiveness of industry through its realigned services and extended office network in the Mainland," said Dr Tam.

A highlight of the anniversary programme is the Productivity Conference Series which will be held from May to September 2006. In line with HKPC's renewed strategies to enhance the competitiveness of industry, the Series will cover the automotive industry, information technologies for manufacturing sectors, green manufacturing as well as corporate development.

To stand as a monument of productivity development in Hong Kong in this day and age, a Productivity Time Capsule will be installed at the HKPC Building in October 2006. Purpose-built and designed by a team of HKPC experts, the Time Capsule will be custom-made to house state-of-the-art productivity enhancement tools developed by HKPC.

In addition, as a permanent display of the success stories of companies which have attained productivity enhancement through HKPC's services over the years, the Productivity Enhancement Showcase will be set up at the HKPC Building to serve as benchmarks for enterprises in their drive towards productivity excellence.

With the launch of the "HKPC - Into the 40th Year" Programme, HKPC has invited Mr Eric Chan to design a special 40th anniversary logo. The winner of the 'Hong Kong Pavilion Design Competition' at the China Hi-Tech Fair 2004, Mr Joey Ho, has also been invited to provide professional advice on the overall external design of the Time Capsule.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications and Events
Tel: (852) 2788 5895
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: justina@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

11 May 2006