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SCMP Reporter

IN the past 30 years, the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (HKSTC) has helped manufacturers of more than one million products - from toy trucks and toasters to styrene packaging and soy sauce - pass a maze of international safety laws to reach the world markets.

   As consumers' demands for high-performance, hi-tech, safe goods has increased, the HKSTC has succeeded in keeping up with the rapid pace of change.

  This year, the centre, which is housed in 30,000 square feet of purpose-built laboratories in Tai Po, celebrates an anniversary which is marked by a new relationship with China and a turnaround in fortunes.

  While the HKSTC is a non-profit service, the past six months under new managing director Richard Fung and with the support of the board of directors, have seen improvements that have reflected a steady growth in business.

  The centre was established as the first commercial testing laboratory in Hong Kong in 1963, when the bulk of testing was in the textiles field.

 ''We used to be part of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries,'' said Robert Cheung, assistant director operations.

  ''We were funded, in part, by the Government and our role was to help local industries meet the stringent standards imposed on imported goods overseas.

  ''Factories did not have the resources to start laboratories, or the contacts to know the requirements of importers.

  ''In 1984, we became independent; funding stopped and the centre supports itself by charging a fee for testing.

  ''We still retain our non-profit status and are still serving industry in fields of safety and quality.''   Mr Cheung said this added to the centre's credibility because, by being totally independent, it showed no bias towards any manufacturer or industry.

  The system of checks involves not only the HKSTC testing products for its customers. The HKSTC also comes under scrutiny to ensure it is up to the international mark.

  The centre is accredited by the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS), under the Hong Kong Government Industry Department for specific tests, and is the first commercial laboratory to be accredited by HOKLAS.

  The HKSTC wears numerous hats. It tests products for local manufacturers to ensure that they will meet the stringent requirements of overseas importers.

  Should the product fail any of the tests, the HKSTC will advise on how it can be corrected to make it acceptable.

  The HKSTC acts as an agent, testing for other country's marks. It works closely with many national and international groups and its reports are recognised by the Japan Toy Association, the Standards Association of Australia, the International Wool Secretariat, the British Standards Institution, the Association of Short-Circuit Testing Authorities (UK), Marks and Spencer, the Italian Quality Mark Institute, and similar bodies in the United States, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and Germany.

  It audits factories and will give an initial factory evaluation to examine a factory's production capabilities and quality standards before a contract is placed.

  Before production begins, it will assess the materials used and manufacturing methods. It will also carry out a production check half-way through the process and, finally, make a random inspection on finished goods.

  It is now working with officials to set up a testing centre in China and will act as a consulting body, initially for toy manufacturers who are eager for their goods to meet international standards.

  The China Import and Export Commodity Inspection Bureau (CCIB) will provide both training and advice when it opens its joint office with inspectors in Shenzhen.

  ''Manufacturers in China often have no quality check, or perhaps have only an inspector at the end of the line,'' said Mr Fung.

  ''Through our joint office, we will be able to visit factories and respond faster to requests.

  ''We will extend our inspection to testing, starting with toys, and later move into other areas.''        Mr Fung said demand had increased, with a number of Hong Kong-based businesses opting for lower labour costs and cheaper rentals in China to move factories over the border.

  ''It will be more convenient, as well as a much-needed service for China's manufacturing industry,'' said Mr Fung.



A million reasons to celebrate