New Guidebook Explores Road Ahead for Horological Industry

To enhance the competitiveness and brand value of the local horological industry, The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries (FHKWTI) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) have jointly compiled a guidebook to map out the future direction and success factors for fellow manufacturers and retailers in the areas of business attitude, technology application and market development.

The “Practical Guidebook for New Development of Hong Kong Horological Industry” was launched today (22 August 2013) by FHKWTI Permanent Honorary President, Dr Samson Sun; Vice-Chairman and Project Coordinator, Mr Geoffrey Kao; Vice-Chairmen Mr Anthony Cheung and Ms Esther Wong; HKPC Executive Director, Mrs Agnes Mak, and Director (Business Innovation), Mr Leo Lam.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr Kao said, “Hong Kong is the world’s second largest exporter of watches and clocks after Switzerland, with the total value exceeding HK$ 74.3 billion in 2012. To stay competitive, the local horological industry must go for innovation and value creation, and adjust their business practices and marketing strategies to cater for the changing consumption patterns. The Guidebook offers a useful reference for SMEs to set clear development goals and to trigger new ideas to meet the challenges.”

On HKPC’s support to the industry, Mrs Mak said, “Our survey of local horological SMEs has revealed brand development to be the goal and the way forward for the industry. Furthermore, about 65% of SMEs expressed the need for more locally-developed core technologies, especially the development of movements, for value creation and sustainable growth.”

“HKPC has been supporting the growth of the horological industry by providing international standards testing, and the transfer of new materials and manufacturing technologies. We have recently established the Watch Movement, Components and Subassemblies Testing Laboratory to offer chronometer testing for the movements of mechanical and quartz watches. It will facilitate the development of local design and production of movements, as well as chronometer watches,” she added.

The Guidebook offers both printed and electronic versions. Please visit HKPC website: (www.hkpc.org) to download. The Guidebook is a major programme of a project to explore and realize a new vision for the local horological industry. Funded by the SME Development Fund of the Trade and Industry Department of the HKSAR Government, the project also includes an industry survey, seminars and workshops.

For information about the project, please contact Mr Sun Yip of HKPC on tel.: (852) 2788 5826 or email: ksyip@hkpc.org. For other media enquiries, please contact Mr Felix Chan of HKPC’s Corporate Communications Division at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

22 August 2013

FHKWTI Permanent Honorary President, Dr Samson Sun (third from left); Vice-Chairman and Project Coordinator, Mr Geoffrey Kao (fifth from left); Vice-Chairmen Mr Anthony Cheung (second from left) and Ms Esther Wong (sixth from left); HKPC Executive Director, Mrs Agnes Mak (fourth from left), and Director (Business Innovation), Mr Leo Lam, officiate the launch of the Guidebook.

Horo Guidebook