Message As the SAR's premier management organisation, the Hong Kong Management Association is uniquely placed to assist local companies in upgrading the effectiveness and efficiency of management. To achieve this objective, the annual HKMA Quality Award was introduced in 1991. The purpose of the award is to reward commitment in an age of change and to give recognition to those who have achieved outstanding standards of quality and made a lasting commitment to the process of quality management. The award is based on the world-famous American Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria, with the same high standards of judging. Thanks to the invaluable support of companies, the number of entries for the award has been increasing over the years. As one of the judges of the award since 1991, I am deeply impressed by the significant improvement in the quality of entries. It can be observed that more companies now put heavy emphasis on the importance of Total Quality Management (TQM) in strengthening their competitive position and enhancing their business results. I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude to the following companies for their generous sponsorship of the award this year: American Express International; Asia Television; Bank of China, Hong Kong branch; Cathay Pacific Airways; Cosco (Hong Kong) Group; Guangdong Enterprises (Holdings); the Hong Kong Jockey Club; Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong; the Kowloon Motor Bus Co (1933); Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation; Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group; South China Morning Post Publishers; Sun Hung Kai Properties; and Xerox (Hong Kong). The 1998 HKMA Quality Award is now open for entries. On behalf of the Hong Kong Management Association, I cordially invite every company committed to quality to support this prestigious award. DAVID K. P. LI Chairman, Hong Kong Management Association
