As Hong Kong's business sector mainly comprises small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), more effort is being made to enhance the competitiveness of the sector.
The Hong Kong Management Association established a 'Special Award for SMEs' category in 2005 to encourage the pursuit of total quality management.
Uchiya Hong Kong, a subsidiary of the Japan-based Uchiya Thermostat, won this year's SME Award in the HKMA Quality Award.
Established in 1986, Uchiya Hong Kong mainly manufactures thermostats, thermal protectors and thermistor sensors for electric appliances and the automotive industry, while the headquarters is responsible for research, development, manufacturing and marketing of all products.
'We are very happy to see our hard work has paid off,' says Cherie Mak Chui-wan, quality control manager at Uchiya Hong Kong. 'The award serves as encouragement and recognition for all of us. It helps us promote our brand name to customers in various industries and strengthens the confidence of our existing customers in our products.'
The HKMA expanded the eligibility criteria for the award this year to any industry and business that employ 200 people or less in Hong Kong, and are not subsidiaries of another corporation with headquarters in Hong Kong.