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Chris Oliver

Do not expect much 'dotcom' drama at this year's Hong Kong SME Award 2000.

   That is because the annual business awards - which recognise the achievements of small and medium-sized companies - is focused on innovation, not hype, says Norman Cheung, a senior consultant, strategy and finance, of Hong Kong Productivity Council.

  The presentation of awards took place last night at the J W Marriott Hotel.

  'It's very heartening in this present 'dotcom' mania that we have real companies here doing real business and are well managed,' Mr Cheung said.

   'There are entrants from all sorts of industries. We don't pay attention to where they come from, rather we try and assess them based on judging criteria.'   The second annual hosting of the event pitted some of the SAR's best business brains under a competition theme of 'Finance and Innovation, the Road to Success'.

  From among the field of 67 participants, retirement home operator Everbright Group took the Gold Award for the New SME, edging out Pedorthic Technology and Waste & Environmental Technologies which both took Silver.

   In the same category, Merit Awards were presented to Wah Lam Building Materials and Molecular Technology.

  The Gold Award for Best Managed SME went to printed circuit board manufacturer Carven Circuits. Silver Awards in the category went to Emper Industrial and Keystone Electric Wire & Cable.

   Merit Awards for the Best Managed Company went to Longrand Electronics and Wings Trading.

  The competition was organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, along with support from the Industry Department, Business and Services Promotion Unit, Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau and several industry and professional associations. Small and medium-sized companies are those firms with less than 100 employees in the manufacturing sector and less than 50 workers in the retail sector.

   The entrants in this year's competition were evaluated according to criteria designed to gauge all areas of business operations. The eight-member judging panel, drawn from the supporting institutions, assessed each firm individually.

   A 30 per cent weighting was given to business results, primarily customer and stakeholder satisfaction. A 20 per cent weighting was placed on critical success factors, such as the business fundamentals and distinctive competitive advantages. A 10 per cent weighting went to the following categories: leadership; business development; human resource development; organisational development; and resource management.

  Mr Cheung said the awards were intended as a vote of confidence for smaller companies that formed the backbone of Hong Kong's economy.

  'There are many awards in town,' he said, but they overlook SMEs. These SMEs contribute more than 60 per cent to the GDP of Hong Kong.'   Award winners will gain media exposure and enhanced opportunities to network and raise their company profile. They will also have the right to display the award logo for publicity and promotional pur poses, and gain membership in the Hong Kong Productivity Council's SME Centre.

 Winners will be eligible for a portion of the available $25 million in asset financing at the prime rate of 8.75 per cent from Greenwood Capital.

  The chairman of the SME Award Steering Committee, Denis Lee, said the award reflected Hong Kong's diverse industrial base.

  'What surprised me is the variety of industries. We've got a home for the elderly, some information technology products and some bio- technology companies, among others,' he said.

 However, the award scheme appears to be building a tradition of companies moving to the next level. Last year's Silver Award winner in the Best Managed category, Coils Electronics, listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in November.

  Many of this year's winners appear to be bucking another trend: the urge to pack up and head to cheaper production areas throughout China and Southeast Asia.

   Everbright Group's retirement home manages to maintain its competitiveness from its New Territories location, despite a cheaper operating cost structure that lies just 10 minutes drive away in the mainland.

   The judges cited Everbright Group's strong management as the reason the company operates efficiently. Carven Circuits has also broken the model that silicon firms belong anywhere but the SAR.

   'Given the high operating cost that Hong Kong has in terms of running a business, to have a 100 per cent manufacturing base in Hong Kong is quite an achievement,' Mr Cheung said.

 'On top of that it has maintained an admirable margin, a very efficient and streamlined production process, and a good customer base. All in all, given the competitive environment in which it operates, its done very well and is well managed.' 



Everbright excels in management