The results of the annual HKMA Quality Award, one of the most prestigious business awards in Hong Kong, were proudly announced by Dr John C C Chan GBS JP, Chairman of the Awards Organizing Committee, during the press conference of the Award held on Thursday, 6 July 2006 at the InterContinental Hong Kong Hotel.

The Electrical & Mechanical Services Trading Fund, HKSARG is awarded the Gold Award in recognition of its great commitment to Total Quality Management. Chevalier Property Management Limited and Mainland Headwear Holdings Limited are awarded the Bronze Awards. The Special Award for SMEs goes to Roots Biopack Limited.

First launched in 1991 by The Hong Kong Management Association, the annual HKMA Quality Award aims to reward commitment in an age of change, and to bring public recognition to those organizations that have achieved outstanding standards of quality and made a lasting commitment to the process of quality management. The Award has especially developed a Special Award for SMEs last year to encourage their pursuit of Total Quality Management.

This year, the applicants coming from a broad spectrum of industries, prove the reach and influence of the Award among the local business community. Commenting on the winners, the Panel of Judges and the Board of Examiners are deeply impressed with the efforts made by the winners in understanding the needs of their customers. Following are some brief but specific comments on each winner.

GOLD AWARD WINNER:

Electrical & Mechanical Services Trading Fund, HKSARG
The Electrical & Mechanical Services Trading Fund is commended for its successful transformation from a conventional government department into a competitive, market-driven, and customer-focused organization. To identify the organization�s needs and challenges, a number of Strategic Business Units that are tasked to devise long-term and short-term action plans with specific focuses have been established. The fund has maintained well-researched and carefully-defined customer segmentations to provide good quality and efficient customer service. A triple- level performance measurement system has also been established to measure the organization�s performance in strategic, managerial and operational fronts. The fund is determined to foster a caring and learning culture for its staff. A series of staff management systems are well established to boost work incentives. The Fund is now the best performers amongst the government�s five trading funds with continued improvement in the area of customer satisfaction.

BRONZE AWARD WINNERS:
(Listed according to alphabetical order of company names.)

Chevalier Property Management Limited
In driving for a service-focused culture, Chevalier Property Management Limited has put in place a clear customer-oriented vision that the company has systematically communicated to its staff. The company has developed a number of channels to gather customers� feedback to continuously improve its quality of service. To maintain service commitment and performance standards, the company has put in place site service pledges and has conducted performance reviews at site, head office, and corporate levels. Job relocations and re-designs are adopted to provide career-development prospects for promising staff. The company�s strong emphasis on brand-building, establishing close communications with customers, and improving reserve of the estates are also commendable.

Mainland Headwear Holdings Limited
By adopting a `Never-Stand-Still` organizational culture, the senior management of Mainland Headwear Holdings Limited encourages staff to provide feedback and creative suggestions for the company`s benefit. To maintain its competitive edge, the company develops market knowledge through its own management experience, business acumen, discussions with customers, participation in trade fair and industry events, customers and market survey as well as close communications with other key industry players. The company maintains a one-stop supply chain including design, material sourcing, manufacturing, packaging and logistics. Production and work processes are based on ISO 9001 and 5S to systematically control and improve processes. As a result-oriented company, Mainland Headwear Holdings Limited has shown significant achievements in globalized operational expansion in terms of size and scope.

SPECIAL AWARD FOR SMES:

Roots Biopack Limited
With clear and precise management visions, the employees of Roots Biopack Limited are able to adhere closely to the company`s core values and develop environmentally-friendly products. To maintain its strategic position in the industry, Roots Biopack conducted marketing analyses to obtain information about competitors. By means of a SWOT analysis, the company was able to formulate short and long-term objectives and strategies against upcoming challenges. To provide the company with an infrastructure of continuous learning and improvement, Roots Biopack introduces a self-improvement programme and encourages its staff to take on new skills and challenges. The business results are impressive with the company�s sales increased by 150 per cent over the past three years. In addition, the company did not receive any customer complaint in the past few years and was able to retain all its customers since the company`s opening.

The Award`s TPanel of Judges include:

For more information, please visit the website of the HKMA Quality Award at: www.hkma.org.hk/qa or contact Ms Victoria Lo on 2774 8528 or Ms Becky So on 2774 8547.

(A list of past award winners attached)