Fees cut council need for grants

The Hong Kong Productivity Council says increased income from research and consultation fees had reduced its reliance on government grants in the year to March.

Executive director Thomas Tang said fee income rose 13 per cent to $230.3 million accounting for 63 per cent of income last year.

He said government subsidies decreased from 47 per cent to 37 per cent of total expenses since 1993.

Projects undertaken last year rose 22 per cent to 890.

Mr Tang expected self-generated income to total $260 million this year.

'So far the Industry and Technology Development Council has granted us $41 million for research work,' he said.