HKPC Organizes International Conference on Green Surface Finishing Technology - Third Event under its

Over 200 representatives from the local manufacturing sector attended the "2006 International Conference on Green Surface Finishing Technology" jointly organized by the Hong Kong Metal Finishing Society (HKMFS) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today (17 July 2006).

Aiming to provide industry with the latest information on green surface finishing technology to meet international environmental requirements, the two-day event is part of the "Productivity Conference Series" under the "HKPC – Into the 40th Year" Programme. Comprising plenary sessions with over 30 speakers from Europe, the USA, Japan, the Mainland and Hong Kong, the Conference is funded by the Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme of the HKSAR Government.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr Francis Ho, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology), HKSAR Government, and Mr Luther Wong, Chairman of HKMFS.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Wong said, "To stay competitive in the changing international business landscape and to drive for sustainable development, industrialists must turn to green technologies for solutions."

He said, "The European Union (EU) has implemented the 'End-of-Life Vehicle' (ELV), 'Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment' (WEEE), and most recently, the 'Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment' (RoHS) Directives to enforce a higher level of recycling, re-use and recovery in manufacturing. In mainland China, the issues of environmental protection and green manufacturing were also highlighted in the 11th Five-Year Economic Plan."

"Widely applied in different manufacturing sectors, including electronics and electrical appliances, PCB and plastics, machinery and metal, automotive components, watches and clocks, gifts and toys, surface finishing is playing an indispensable role in industry's move towards cleaner production. With the adoption of green surface finishing technology, Hong Kong manufacturers will be well-positioned to meet the challenges brought by the stringent environmental regulations," he said.

At the Conference, the industry experts spoke on the impact of the EU's environmental directives to manufacturers in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, as well as the latest development of RoHS and cleaner production, inorganic surface finishing, and surface finishing in electronics industry. The Conference will continue with presentations on green procurement and evaluation methodologies, organic coatings, as well as surface finishing in automotive industry on 18 July 2006.

Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Mr K K Yeung, Executive Director of HKPC; Mr Fred Yeung, Organizing Committee Chairman of the Conference; Mr Jimmy Kwok, Chairman of Federation of Hong Kong Machinery and Metal Industries; Mr Li Yuet Leong, Chairman of Hong Kong Electro-Plating Merchants Association; Prof. K B Chan, President of Hong Kong Green Manufacturing Alliance; and other representatives of HKMFS.

For further information, please contact Mr Jeffrey Leung of the Conference Secretariat at tel. (852) 2788 5533 or email: igsf@hkpc.org, or visit the Conference website at www.hkpc.org/igsf.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications & Events
HKPC
Tel: (852) 2788-5895
Fax: (852) 2788-5056
E-mail: justina@hkpc.org

17 July 2006