Figure：Wo Lee Steel set up a mechanical automation production line in Ping Che, Fanling, and introduced a multi-functional robotic arm to weld prefabricated parts. The manpower was reduced from dozens to less than 10 in the past.

「Industry 4.0」 is an important part of promoting 「Re-industrialization」. It is mainly led by intelligent manufacturing. It uses intelligent equipment with interconnected functions to optimize factory operation and improve equipment maintenance, so as to save production costs and improve efficiency and efficiency.

Some Hong Kong entrepreneurs said that in recent years, efforts have been made to improve the production efficiency of factories and establish automated production lines, but the investment involved and the government's support is insufficient. According to the analysis of the Asia Pacific Institute for strategy, the government must assist the industry transformation in order to create a new advanced manufacturing industry and a complete industrial chain. Hong Kong's 「Re-industrialization」must be promoted in the background of the Great Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and an industrial pattern of 「the mainland is a large-scale high-end, and Hong Kong is a small and medium-sized high-end」 should be formed./TaKungpao reporter Lai Chun Hung(Text), Chuen Yee(Photo)

Think Tank Scholars: Developing Knowledge Industry Services

Due to the lack of land and expensive labor in Hong Kong, to attract Hong Kong manufacturers to return to Hong Kong to set up factories on their own initiative, they must create their own industrial model.The Asia Pacific Institute for strategy, a research and academic institution, pointed out that in order to develop 「Re-industrialization」, Hong Kong must assist industries to relocate and develop high-value-added industries. Markets, research and development, production, services and others can be opened up through industrial services, thereby a new manufacturing format is created.

The Asia Pacific Institute for strategy published a special report entitled 「Hong Kong's 「Re-industrialization」 will usher in a qualitative Change: Industrial Service Industry – Opportunities for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area」, Hong Kong’s 「Re-industrialization」 cannot relive the industrial prosperity of the 1970s and 1980s, but should develop industry in line with the current characteristics of Hong Kong, and must be promoted in the background of Hong Kong's service capabilities, international trade center, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and China's manufacturing industry development.

Drive innovation based on customer needs

「Industrial service refers to the research and development of advanced technologies that can meet the new needs of customers. It can also be called knowledge service and advanced manufacturing service.」Dr. Mark Lee, research director of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Strategy, explained in an exclusive interview. For example, Hong Kong people pay attention to physical health. The company will use cold-pressed juice technology instead of ordinary juicing technology. Compared with ordinary Juicers, vegetables and fruits are squeezed into juice with high-pressure machines at low temperatures. Nutrients such as B1 and B2 will be more easily retained and can meet people's health needs. This is the transformation of original products into new products that meet people's needs.

In addition to the food industry, various industries can also develop into high value-added industries. For example, an organic oil recycling company only has 80 employees, but it uses robots and automation to turn waste oil into useful oil and reduce environmental pollution. 「In this way, Hong Kong can produce an environmentally friendly waste oil industry, which is re-industrialization.」

Dr. Mark Lee believes that 「Re-industrialization」 is to develop the manufacturing industry in the direction of technology-intensive, light-labor, automation, and high-knowledge, so that even small and medium-sized production can achieve the purpose of high quality, which can solve the problem of insufficient land and expensive labor in Hong Kong. If the enterprise considers the service level, starts from the needs of people, and drives technological innovation and industrial development in the reverse direction, it can go further. 「If customers have requirements, they can stimulate corporate innovation, and Hong Kong can create more new business forms.」

He believes that 「Re-industrialization」should integrate with the Greater Bay Area, create new advanced manufacturing industries and a complete industrial chain, formulate relevant development standards and platforms, and provide high-quality self-owned products and professional services to the world,「In this regard, Hong Kong can learn from German companies in depth, and provide technical training, technical solutions and after-sales services while selling advanced manufacturing products and equipment.」

Overseas buyers have confidence in Hong Kong’s legal system

Dr. Lee pointed out that Hong Kong's 「Re-industrialization」must be carried out in the context of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. when Hong Kong cannot accommodate large-scale new formats, the Greater Bay Area can make up for it, forming an industrial pattern of 「the Mainland is a large-scale high-end, Hong Kong is a small and medium-sized high-end」. The talent, space, market, etc. of Greater Bay Area can also make the business that was originally successful in Hong Kong grow rapidly, and Hong Kong continues to improve and develop new products.

「In the context of the Great Bay Area, Hong Kong can become the engine of synergy among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.」 He believes that with the deepening of the mainland's openness, the role of Hong Kong as an 「Super Middleman」 has gradually weakened, and we should not always stay in the role of 「Free Trade Window」, but as an 「Enabler」. For example, 「if mainland products want to enter overseas, Hong Kong can operate in order to give overseas buyers confidence, and vice versa. Because Hong Kong still has the ability to connect with advanced countries in terms of intellectual property rights, legal proceedings and so on.」

Source: Takungpao：http://www.takungpao.com.hk/news/232109/2022/0608/728285.html

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