Light and labour-intensive manufacturing industry was one of the key employment sectors in Hong Kong a few decades ago. As more companies are moving their production facilities to mainland China, the main focus of this sector in Hong Kong is business strategy, in which the challenges would include issues of competitiveness, globalisation, the shortening of product life cycles, legislation and technological change. However, one should be ready to travel frequently and even station in mainland cities for work.

 

Research and Development

Research and development work involves finding new processes, technologies and products for manufacturing, as well as assuring the product quality and related control standards. 

Positions / Job Titles Offered         

• Research and Development Specialist, Quality Assurance Engineer, Quality Control Engineer                      

Typical Job Nature/ Job Duties

• Generate improved or new product ideas
• Evaluate and inspect suppliers
• Identifying and choosing products from suppliers
• Monitor the production process
• Control production and quality control standards
• Ensure that stringent product safety standards
• Test and examine samples
• Liaise with product management and marketing staff
• Collect and understand business requirements and deliver effective technical solutions

General Requirements

• Degree Holder inEngineering, or related science
• Strong analytic skills
• Research experience preferred
• Ability to rapidly implement new ideas and energy to initiate and implement improvements
• Proactive problem solver
• Travelling is often required

  

Product Management

Product management (sometimes known as product development) refers to planning of a product at all stages of the product life-cycle. It involves bridging the gap between teams of different expertise, most often the sales/business-oriented departments with the technical or manufacturing operations. 

Positions / Job Titles Offered

• Product Development Specialist

Typical Job Nature/ Job Duties

• Keep track of product life cycle from product launch to fade-out  
• Identify the product stage and implement related business/ marketing strategies
• Coordinate with internal parties to ensure smooth execution of overall brand-building strategies

General Requirements

• Degree holder in business, marketing or related discipline
• Qualifications in relevant product area are highly preferred, such as pharmaceuticals and electronic/electrical engineering for electronics parts
• Good understanding of production process
• Good leadership, project planning and organization skills
• Good liaison and negotiation skills

 

Customer Services

Positions/ Job Titles Offered

• Customer Service Executive, Customer Relations Officer, Assistant Customer Services Manager                         

Job Nature / Typical Job Duties               

• Responsible for providing quality post-sales services
• To co-ordinate the external and internal parties to handle customers’ inquiries and complaints
• To collect customer comments and feedback and take follow up actions 

General Requirements                            

• Degree holder in any disciplines
• Good command of both spoken and written English
• Good command of Cantonese
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Good command of PC
• Customer-oriented working attitude

 

Shipping

Positions/ Job Titles Offered                     

• Executive Trainee, Accounting Officer, Administration Officer, Legal Consultant

Job Nature/Typical Job Duties                  

Executive Trainee:

• To receive on-the-job management training that will speed up your understanding of the entire company and shipping industry

Accounting Officer:

• To maintain accounts of the company and prepare financial statements and generate weekly, monthly and annual reports

Administration Officer:

• To keep track of all the containers, cargo and documents via computer networks to provide 24-hour global cargo tracking 

Legal Consultant:

• Large shipping companies would hire legal consultant to deal with legislation governing shipping contracts and arbitration. The legal consultant would be responsible to provide legal advice in cases involving accidents, losses and damages to goods or vessels                            

General Requirements

• Degree holder of accounting or business administration is an advantage
• For legal consultant position, a relevant degree is necessary
• Good written and spoken Chinese and English
• Can handle correspondence independently
• Detail oriented

 

Trading

Hong Konghas been handling a significant portion of the Chinese mainland's expanding external trade. Hong Kong's import and export trading firms are typically small-medium enterprises, and are active in sourcing various types of goods, including raw materials, machinery and parts, and a wide range of consumer goods, such as toys and premiums. The business environment for Hong Kong's trading firms is becoming more challenging amid the growing trend toward direct dealing between customers and manufacturers. 

Positions / Job Titles Offered         

• Trading Officer                      

Typical Job Nature/ Job Duties

• To handle or to supervise supporting staffs to handle full set of Letter of Credit (L/C) and Import/Export (I/E) documents
• To coordinate the activities of shipping, insurance and airfreight companies
• To keep close contact with clients, distributors, commission agent and suppliers
• To collaborate with your own shipping, marketing and purchasing departments if working for a large multinational trading company
• To solicit new businesses if working as sales/marketing executive

General Requirements

• Degree holder of any disciplines
• Experience in I/E documents an advantage
• Effective communication and strong organization skills
• Mature, tactful and good people and problem solving skills
• Fluency in English, Cantonese and Mandarin is an advantage
• Proficiency in PC

  

Related Associations/Useful Links

Trade and Industry Department	http://www.tid.gov.hk
Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)	http://www.hktdc.com
HKTDC’s Hong Kong Industry Profiles	http://www.hktdc.com/info/mi/hkip/en/Hong-Kong-Industry-Profiles.htm
The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong	http://www.cma.org.hk

                                                                                                                              

 (Sources from The CUHK Careers Guide 2012)