Welcome remarks by Ir Dr the Honourable Raymond HO Chung-tai, SBS, MBE, S B St J, JP Member of the Legislative Council of HKSAR Hong Kong

Deputy to 10th & 11th NPC of the Peoples Republic of China at the Seminar on Products & Management System Certification Construction Products, Information Security, Occupational Safety and Health, Food Safety and Jewellery jointly organised by Association of Engineering Professionals in Society and Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University under the Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme funded by HKSAR Government Friday, 30 September 2011 Chiang Cheng Studio Theatre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning. I am pleased to join you at the Seminar. First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for jointly organising this seminar with the Association of Engineering Professionals in Society (AES), of which I am the Chairman. On behalf of the co-organisers, I would like to extend my warm welcome to all of you. With the growing competition in the market economy, the demand for profitability in business world, the growing concerns on quality, environment, health and safety issue, increasing attention is given to quality of products and services which translate into a growing demand for the service of testing and certification. Testing and certification plays a very important role in ensuring the quality of products and services. Impartial third party certification and testing give customers confirmation that the certified products or services conformed to regulatory and commercial requirements. On the other

hand, suppliers can demonstrate to customers that their products and services will meet the appropriate standards. In the 2009-10 Policy Address, Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, identified testing and certification as one of the six economic areas where Hong Kong enjoys a clear advantage for further development. The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification was established in 2009 to promote professional standards and international recognition of the industry. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong has enjoyed a number of advantages in the development of this sector. Testing and certification has a long history in Hong Kong since the days when Made in Hong Kong products constituted the majority of the export consignments from this part of the world. Throughout these years, testing and certification sector has fully built up its reputation with the support of a robust accreditation system, efficient and professional personnel. Meanwhile, the close relationship between the Mainland and Hong Kong provides us with an added advantage in developing testing and certification. Hong Kong has always been an important bridge between the Mainland and overseas. This role has not been sidelined with the reunification of Hong Kong with the Mainland and the rapid economic growth of China in the past 2 decades. Instead, the role has been strengthened with the continuing economic integration between Hong Kong and the Mainland. As you may be aware, the National 12th Five-Year Plan was endorsed at the Fourth Session of the 11th National Peoples Congress, which I attended as a Hong Kong Deputy in Beijing in March this year. An individual chapter of the Plan dedicated to the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions signifies the Central Governments strong support given to Hong Kong and will enhance cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The Plan states the Central Governments support for the maintenance of Hong Kong status as an international financial centre and an international centre for trade and shipping. Hong Kong can take advantage of the new situation to advance the development testing and certification sector. We can also continue to capitalise on the opportunities made possible the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). The liberalization measures under CEPA has extended to product testing services under the CEPA Supplement VII which allows testing organisations in Hong Kong to cooperate with designated Mainland organisations to undertake testing of products for the China

Compulsory Certification (CCC) System on a pilot basis, for selected products listed in the CCC Catalogue and processed in Hong Kong. There are four types of products processed in Hong Kong included in the pilot scheme. They are (1) toy; (2) switches, protective devices and connection devices for electrical installations; (3) information technology equipment; and (4) lighting apparatus. As Hong Kong is not a nation, it cannot join international multilateral systems on mutual recognition of testing and certification that are open to national member bodies. With the Supplement VII to CEPA, our testing laboratories can apply to the Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) of the Mainland to join multilateral systems on mutual recognition in which CNCA is a national member body, such as the International Electrotechnical Commissions System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, which is widely accepted internationally. It is reported that negotiations between the Mainland and Hong Kong authorities are under way to expand the 4 products covered in the pilot project to 23 products. It is expected that the arrangements will be included in the CEPA Supplement VIII which will be signed by the end of this year. The support given by the Mainland will surely add strength to Hong Kong in its development of testing and certification. Nevertheless, the local testing and certification sector in Hong Kong must maintain its competitiveness by keeping abreast of the latest international safety and quality standards and requirements. In facilitating this process, AES has organised this seminar followed the success of the last one held one year ago. I am sure that the seminar, with its focus on the products and management system certification, will provide us with an excellent platform for sharing our views and experience on this important subject. Thank you very much.

It is to clarify that this seminar is not organized under the Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme.