| REPORT ON |
| CHINA TRAINING SEMINAR ON TERTIARY INDUSTRIES |
| 11-13 NOVEMBER 1998, NANJING |
BACKGROUND
In 1996 the HKCSI and the Office of Tertiary Industries (第三產業協調小組辦公室) of the State Planning Commission (國家計劃委員會) agreed on a programme of cooperation for 1997. One of the events being organised was a training seminar for SPC officials in Shenzhen.
Following the success of the training seminar, the HKCSI, in its annual
delegation to Beijing led by Chairman Mr Stanley Ko (高鑑泉) in June 1998, presented a
proposal to the State 
Development
and Planning Commission (SDPC國家發展計劃委員會) suggesting cooperation in
organising the training seminar again. The proposal was endorsed by the SDPC and
implemented by its Department of Development Planning (DDP 發展規劃司三處). With
the support from the Planning and Economic Commission of Jiangsu Province (PECJ
江蘇省計劃與經濟委員會), the training seminar was held from 11 to 13 November
in the Mandarin Garden Hotel (狀元樓酒店) in Nanjing.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the training seminar were to share with the state planners and officials from all of the provinces and municipalities the modern concepts of tertiary industries, and to take the opportunity to explore greater liberalisation. The emphasis was on distribution related industries like retail, wholesales, chainstore and logistics.
PARTICIPANTS
About 120 participants from all of the provinces and 
municipalities of Mainland
China took part in the seminar. They were from: Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu,
Guangdong (Guangzhou), Guangxi (Nanning), Guizhou, Hebei (Shijiazhuang), Heilongjiang
(Harbin), Henan, Hubei (Wuhan), Hunan, Jiangsu (Nanjing / Wuxi / Xuzhou / Nantong /
Yanchang / Yangzhou / Lianyungang / Taizhou), Jiangzi, Jilin (Chengchun), Liaoning
(Shenyan), Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi (Xian), Shangdong (Jinan/Qingdao), Shanghai,
Shanxi, Shenzhen, Sichuan, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xinjiang, Yunnan (Kunming) and Zhejiang
(Hangzhou / Ningbo).
Typically, participants were directors, deputy directors or section chiefs of the respective SDPC's local units, and a few representatives from Chinese enterprises.
FORMAT
The
Training Seminar was a 3-day function. Participants arrived Nanjing and registered on 10
November 1998. The format of the event was as below:
11 November 1998
 |
The seminar was opened by: |
|
Mr Jiang Junlu, Director-General of the Department of Development Planning (發展規劃司姜均露司長) of SDPC |
|
HKCSI Chairman Mr Stanley Ko. |
|
Mr Ren Yi Qi, Vice Director (任懿奇副主任) of PECJ |
|
Mr Jiang Yu De, Deputy Mayor (蔣裕德副市長) of Nanjing Municipality |
|
Mr Mike Rowse, Director-General (盧維思署長) of Business and Services Promotion Unit of the Financial Secretary's Office (財政司司長辦公室工商服務業推廣署) spoke on "Deregulation and Privatisation" |
|
Mr Ning Jizhe, Division Director (寧吉煱處長) of the DDP talked on "Prospect of Future Development of Tertiary Industry in China". |
|
Mr Wu Xin Zhe, Director of Tertiary Industry Section (三產處吳新哲處長) of PECJ briefed on "Development of Tertiary Industries in Jiangsu". |
|
Dr W K Chan, HKCSI Secretary-General (陳偉群秘書長) gave an account on "Hong Kong Service Industries - Challenge and Prospect". |
12 November 1998
|
(Morning) Mr Albert Poon, Manager (潘國華經理) and Ms Rosa Chan, Business Analyst (陳淑貞業務分析員) of Hong Kong Article Numbering Association (香港貨品編碼協會) spoke on "Supply Chain Management". |
|
(Afternoon) Study tour and sightseeing. |
13 November 1998
|
(Morning) Mr David Tso, Chief Executive (左焜行政總裁) and Mr David Pun, Director of Convenience Stores Guangdong Province (潘國樑 - 廣東省便利店董事) of Hong Kong Convenience Stores Limited (香港七•十一便利店有限公司) spoke on "Retail and Franchise Businesses". |
|
(Afternoon) Mr Vincent Wong, Group Chief Executive (汪煒城行政總裁) of Jardine Transport Services (怡和運輸服務集團) spoke on "Transportation Services and Distribution Centre". |
OBSERVATIONS
|
Mainland officials are now putting more attention on the
deve lopment of the
services sector. The contribution of tertiary industries to GDP grew from 23.7% in 1978 to
32.1% in 1997. Output value increased by an average of 10.6% annually. Officials admitted
that the rate of growth was moderate, and acknowledged the importance of tertiary
industries for the national economy. We have been encouraged by the positive message that
China is keen on developing her tertiary sectors. |
|
Mainland officials are now putting efforts to maintain the national economic growth of 8% (保八) for 1998. In the first half of this year, economic growth was only 7% due to the deflationary pressure from the Asian financial turmoil. From January to September this year, GDP amounted to RMB5,443.5 billion, up 7.2% from the same period of last year. Of those, tertiary sectors alone grew by 7.6%. Officials were optimistic to maintain an upper figure of 7% growth rate for this year and hoped to achieve the target of 8%. |
|
The presentations from Hong Kong speakers were well received, as they had provided comprehensive handout materials in advance and made use of audio-visual equipment to illustrate concepts and ideas. It appeared that the mainland audiences put a great deal of emphasis on studying the materials before and after the lectures, and they showed interest in those lively and animating presentations. |
|
Mainland audiences were attentive but passive. It might be because it took time for them to understand the modern concepts of tertiary industries. Many of them preferred to ask questions individually after the sessions rather than publicly. For this reason, a social function prior to the seminar would be useful to warm up the atmosphere. |
|
Many members of the audiences expressed interest in the lectures and they found the knowledge was useful. Officials appreciated the work of HKCSI. |
MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION
Jiangsu is keen on developing itself as a services centre, especially in terms of commerce. At their proposal, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between HKCSI and PECJ.
RECOMMENDATIONS
|
In discussion with SDPC officials, we felt that a similar event should be organised in Hong Kong next year. SDPC also suggested that more in-depth knowledge or specific topics should be given at the lectures. The HKCSI should draft a proposal to the SDPC shortly, and it requires about 1 year for granting approval from the Central Government. |
|
SDPC and HKCSI agreed to explore cooperating in conducting joint research studies. The 2 bodies should identify topics of common interest. |
ADMINSTRATION AND FINANCING
All Hong Kong speakers were on voluntary basis. They were responsible for their travel and hotel charges. The function was hosted by the PECJ and a banquet hosted by Mr He Quan, Director of the General Office (何權秘書長) of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government was held on 10 November 1998.
| Thinex Shek |
| Manager, HKCSI |
| 18 November 1998 |