Hong Kong hosts ISO/Technical Committee plenary meeting

Hong Kong is keeping abreast of the latest developments in international standards as it hosts the 31st Plenary Meeting of International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/Technical Committee (TC) 176 .

It is the first time Hong Kong has been the host for this ISO Technical Committee on quality management and quality assurance.

Hosted by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the ISO/TC 176 meeting is running for a week from November 21 through 28.

Delegates from about 45 economies around the world are joining more than 80 meetings. Discussions and idea exchanges will facilitate the further developments of the ISO 9000 family of standards on quality management.

The opening ceremony of the meeting was officiated by Cheuk Wing-hing, the HKSAR Government's permanent secretary for Innovation and Technology, and Katie Altoft, chairperson of the TC 176, at the Hong Kong Science Park on Monday.

The meeting is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification, the HKCTC for short, and the Hong Kong Productivity Council.

The HKCTC, a government advisory body, aims to spearhead the development of Hong Kong's testing and certification (T&C) industry, to raise professional standards in the territory, and to enhance the recognition of the T&C industry on the global stage.

Ching Pak-chung, chairman of the HKCTC, emphasized the significance of the ISO/TC 176 meeting to Hong Kong, especially to the T&C industry.

"Standards play an important role in the T&C industry. A standard contains requirements, guidelines or characteristics for products, services, processes, production methods or management systems, while standardization is a process of developing a set of specifications, or standards, for a product, a system or a service," he said. "It enhances efficiency and compatibility."

Ching said the ISO 9001"Quality Management System Requirements" is the most widely used standard in Hong Kong and around the world, among some 20,000 standards published by the ISO, and many local enterprises and government bodies support ISO 9001 by obtaining certification to help ensure quality products and services.

"The meeting's focus is in line with the quality management culture in Hong Kong. Stakeholders from T&C and various sectors are positive about the meeting," Ching said.

Established in 1947, the ISO is an independent, nongovernmental organization responsible for developing and publishing international standards.

Since 1968, Hong Kong has taken part in the work of the ISO as a correspondent member, and the city's delegates have participated in meetings on various topics, including technology, food, quality management, the environment and energy management.

Currently, 14 certification bodies in Hong Kong are accredited by the Hong Kong Accreditation Service to provide ISO 9001 certification services.

During the opening ceremony, Permanent Secretary Cheuk welcomed delegates to Hong Kong and underlined the importance of the meeting to Hong Kong.

"The quality management system is truly in the hearts and minds of Hong Kong's businesses. This ISO/TC 176 meeting provides a good opportunity for us to learn from experts, strengthen our external ties and introduce Hong Kong's testing and certification services to leaders," he said.

He added that it was especially meaningful to hold the meeting in Hong Kong right after a new version of ISO 9001 was published in late September.

Cheuk also highlighted Hong Kong's advantage in the industry as an early and committed adopter of international standards and a "superconnector" between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world.

"Hong Kong experts are familiar with different ISO standards and the requirements of overseas clients. At the same time, we are also familiar with the culture and practices on the Chinese mainland and the relevant national standards."

Cheuk reiterated Hong Kong's commitment to the international standards. "According to the ISO Survey 2014, there were over 2,000 valid certificates in Hong Kong issued in 2013. You may well have already noticed that from public buses to bakeries in Hong Kong, they are proudly telling the world that they have been certified to ISO 9001."

TC 176 Chairperson Altoft recognized Hong Kong's efforts in promoting the ISO across the city.

"It is very clear that Hong Kong has an exceptionally strong commitment to quality management, and hence is the perfect place for us to continue our work," she said, adding that she envisages fruitful results from the meeting as delegates reflect on development in order to improve and promote standards.

Wang Lizhi, vice-chair for TC 176, emphasized the importance of standards in a dynamic market.

"Dramatic changes have taken place in business and market development. In this period, standards play a very important role. In the ISO strategy of 2001 to 2015, this region is to be the leading provider of high-quality, globally relevant international standards through its members, and provides certain key objectives to achieve as a region," he said.

Aaron Tong Wai-kwok, a fellow of the Hong Kong Society for Quality, said Hong Kong has a lot to offer to the industry in many aspects of quality management.

"The event will push Hong Kong forward in this field of standard development, and give the local industry more chances to connect with international experts," said Howie Ng Ha-wai, a council member of the HKCTC and a member of the working group responsible for the development of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System standard.

ISO 9000 should not be considered merely from an operational level in a business, Dr. Chris Lo Kwan-yu from the Institute of Textiles and Clothing of Hong Kong Polytechnic University said. He emphasized that it needed to be understood by the top management at a strategic level, which would decide the quality of a business.

Mak Shu-lun, a T&C industry veteran and a lecturer at the Open University of Hong Kong, highlighted a much broader adoption of international standards than before. "ISO 9000 is no longer limited to manufacturing or service industries. More organizations, including courts and hospitals, are using the standards now."

iris@chinadailyhk.com

(China Daily 11/27/2015 page10)