CONSUMER product design figures high in the Governor's Award for Industry scheme because without good draughtsmanship and presentation the territory's products would be unable to compete with countries such as Italy or Japan, both renowned for their innovative design, packaging and presentation to the world's markets.
However, it was an all-Hong Kong show last night as Governor Chris Patten resented a local company, NUTS Technologies Ltd, with the premier award in the Consumer Product Design category. The firm's entry, Connect 918, is a desktop video conference system which, according to managing director Stetson Chung, ''brings a whole new dimension to desktop video conferencing.
''It is a full motion, full colour system that provides global communication. In fact,'' said Mr Chung, ''it could revolutionise our methods of doing business worldwide.'' NUTS is dedicated to the development of high-end innovative products for both the Macintosh and PC markets. A varied range, from accounting and container loading solutions to complex fashion design and manufacturing programs, has already been introduced to receptive markets in Asia and will shortly be sold in North America and Europe.
Founded by the husband and wife partnership of Stetson Chung and Christine Wong two years ago as an Apple certified developer, Causeway Bay-based NUTS has swiftly grown to become a team of 50, with branch offices in Singapore and the United States. In thesame category, winners of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) Consumer Product Design Awards for 1993 were: SMC Microwave Products Co Ltd of Chai Wan, for its SMC Air Grill; Team Concepts Electronics Ltd of Sha Tin, which presented its electronictalking educational toy, Comquest PC; Tele-Art Ltd of Kwai Chung, for its innovative FaxSender; and Universal Appliances Ltd of Kwun Tong, for its Frymaster Junior Plus.
Certificate of Merit awards were presented to: B G Lighting Co Ltd of Sha Tin, for its Folded Lamp; Din Wai Electrical Mfg Co Ltd of Fanling, which presented a Paper Shredder; GPE International Ltd of Kwai Chung, for its GP Audio MO8A and MO8B rechargeable Wireless Karaoke Microphone. Pollyflame Concept (HK) Ltd of Hung Hom, for the Harley Davidson Audio Range (models Daytona and Milwaukee); Project Neun Ltd of Kowloon Bay for its Element Clock series; Seven Sea Chemicals (Holdings) Ltd of Cheung Sha Wan, which submitted the Fanny Safety Sofa-Bed; Team Concepts International Ltd for its TV Bean remote control device; Tony Lau Innovation Holding Ltd of Central, Hong Kong, for its Space Jewellery Collection; VTech Electronics Ltd of Kwai Chung, which submitted the Talking Whiz Kid Notebook toy; and Yanion Co Ltd of Tsuen Wan for its CD Graphics Karaoke Player.
The final panel of judges were: Sir Roger Lobo (chairman), Simon Davies (vice-chairman), Dr Andrew Chuang, Yip Kit-cheun, Albert Ng, Samson Wong and Dr James Fok.