In April this year, the Chief Executive-led Task force on Economic Challenges identified, among other things, testing and certification as one of the six economic areas where Hong Kong enjoys clear advantage.

Last month, the government set up the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification and appointed Prof. Ching Pak-chung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Chinese University of Hong Kong, who has extensive experience in this arena, as chairman of the council, to push forward testing and certification services in the territory.

The council held its first meeting on September 29. Its members agreed it would help formulate a three-year market-driven development plan within six months and submit it to the government for consideration and implementation.

Speaking to China Daily in an exclusive interview after the first meeting, Ching, who is a professor of electronic engineering, said testing and certification services are two separate functions, but are closely connected to each other.

Such services have been in existence in Hong Kong for more than a decade. The sectors have been doing quite well and their business turnover even increased during the period of the SARS crisis.

In his view, the two sectors are in a good position to develop further, given Hong Kong's good reputation for stringent laboratory test standards in compliance with international practices, as well as accreditation of laboratories that provide test reports of products.

Before goods are sold or exported, they will undergo laboratory tests as to their constituents, specifications and conformity to safety standard, Ching explained.

The commonest products being tested are toys and clothes. With growing awareness of good health and food safety among the people in recent years, food items are also tested to find out whether they contain excessive chemical substances such as malachite green or preservatives.

For the same reason, building materials are also tested to ascertain whether they contain asbestos that is hazardous to health and the environment. After tests, the products are sold to the buyers together with the test reports, he said.

At the same time, for the test reports to be trustworthy, the laboratories that issue the test reports also need accreditation to affirm their expertise and practices are up to international standards.

In Hong Kong, there are more than 80 laboratories in the private sector that provide testing services, employing about 10,000 staff, he noted.

As for accreditation of laboratories, Hong Kong Accreditation Service under the Technology and Innovation Commission, is the government department that provides accreditation for laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies operating in Hong Kong.

"The government and industry both think that testing and certification services have very good potential for further development. In my view, Hong Kong has a very good advantage, because people have very strong confidence in our stringent test standards and quality of service," he said.

The professor also stressed the importance of efficient testing and certification services in Hong Kong.

Otherwise, manufacturers and exporters will have to seek services of overseas laboratories and accreditation bodies, and that will incur longer time and higher operating costs.

As to the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification, Ching said its role is to identify more business opportunities for the sector, attract investors, enhance its competitive edge, provide manpower training and create job opportunities.

"As the 17 council members come from the government, academic and industrial backgrounds and have very good knowledge of the sector, I have strong confidence that we can take on board good suggestions and come up with a useful development plan," he added.

In his opinion, testing and certification services have plenty of room for further development in the light of economic development and higher standard of living.

For example, new foci such as examination of jewellery, diamonds and electronic products will arise as a result of trendy living and higher consumption power.

And today as more and more people pursue healthy living, the testing and certification of Chinese medicinal products and health foods will have very good potential for further development.

Ching is also eyeing the mammoth business opportunities beyond Hong Kong. In his view, testing and certification services will flourish in Asia and in particular the Chinese mainland, which is, of course, a very huge manufacturing base.

"Local testing and certification companies can export their services by opening branches on the mainland and in other countries because test reports issued by local certification bodies have very strong credibility," he said.

"The immense mainland market opportunities are very important because it is the world's manufacturing base and the value of exports is very huge. Prompted by growing domestic consumption needs, the quantity of products will increase and that will therefore increase the need for testing and certification services," he explained.

During the interview, Ching also shed light upon the idea of recognition of reciprocal standards and the acceptability of a single test report in both Hong Kong and the mainland in what he described as the system of "one single inspection in one place", meaning that a product does not have to go through two separate tests in both places.

He pointed out: "At present, there still exist differences in testing and certification standards, as well the qualification of testing and certification personnel, between Hong Kong and the mainland."

In his opinion, these differences need to be sorted out in the long run and he believed the Hong Kong and mainland authorities are working towards this direction.

As to manpower training, Ching noted the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Vocational Training Council are running related courses on testing and certification, but added that on-the-job training is equally important.

The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification will hold discussions with education institutions to determine whether more training courses shall be launched.

"At the end of the day, this will be decided by market needs," he pointed out. "If industry finds the scope of products for testing and certification increases, becomes more complicated and if there is a shortage of qualified technicians, it will work with the training institutions to increase supply of technical manpower resources."

(HK Edition 10/23/2009 page4)