IT has been a remarkable year for Tam Chung-ding, the senior vice-president and general manager of Motorola Semiconductors Hong Kong and winner of the Executive Award at last year's DHL-South China Morning Post Business Awards. The Executive Award, which was introduced last year, is meant to recognise hard-working executives who show outstanding dedication to their companies but who do not occupy the seat which would qualify them for the full Businessman of the Year Award. Mr Tam said: ''I felt very honoured. When Hong Kong is supposedly moving towards a service economy rather than a manufacturing one, it is an honour for me as someone in a high-technology industry to be recognised in this manner.'' Since then, his company has gone from being a division of Motorola to having group status, responsible for the Asia-Pacific region. One of the company's local manufacturing plants has received the CEO's quality award, the highest recognition of quality available within the Motorola group. Mr Tam, a former teacher, also received an MBE earlier this year for his contribution to Hong Kong's tertiary education establishments and industrial organisations. He said: ''I think the Executive Award has made me work harder, with a lot of technology and education commitments.'' This is a role he feels very strongly about. As well as other organisations, he is a member of the Productivity Council, the Technology Review Board and the Micro Fabrication Centre of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. ''If there is anything we have to contribute to Hong Kong, then I believe we should give 100 per cent,'' he said. Mr Tam's belief in Hong Kong is reflected in the pride he takes in the success of his company's operations. ''Many people say you cannot manufacture high-technology goods in Hong Kong, at the highest level, yet our manufacturing plant in Tai Po received the CEO's quality award last year for producing goods to Sigma Six [highest] quality on all production lines.'' He believes his award last year was a recognition of the teamwork of his management and all of the company's 2,100 employees. more than half of whom are engineers, professionals and support staff.