HKAS
About HKAS
Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) provides accreditation for laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies located in Hong Kong, through the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS) , Hong Kong Certification Body Accreditation Scheme (HKCAS) and Hong Kong Inspection Body Accreditation Scheme (HKIAS) respectively. HOKLAS was launched in 1985; HKCAS was launched in 1998 while HKIAS was launched in 1999. Click to view the HKAS Milestones.
HKAS is advised by the Accreditation Advisory Board (AAB) on matters relating to accreditation. Chairman and members of AAB are appointed by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau under the delegated authority of the Chief Executive. Working Parties and Task Forces are established under AAB to undertake specific tasks.
HKAS Executive is responsible for administering HKAS, including the accreditation schemes undertaken by HKAS. HKAS has also established a cadre of assessors and technical experts for carrying out assessments for each of the accreditation scheme.
HKAS is a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). HKAS is also a signatory to the multilateral mutual recognition arrangements of these cooperations. All together under these arrangements, HKAS has 123 mutual recognition arrangement partners in 117 economies.
Principal Aims and Objectives
The principal aims and objectives of HKAS are:
- To upgrade the standard of operation of conformity assessment bodies
- To offer official recognition to competent conformity assessment bodies which meet international standards
- To promote the acceptance of endorsed reports and certificates issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies
- To conclude mutual recognition arrangements with other accreditation bodies
- To eliminate the need for repetition of conformity assessment in the importing economies and thereby reducing costs and facilitating free trade across borders
Impartiality Policy
HKAS undertakes accreditation impartially and does not provide any service that may affect its impartiality.
HKAS is responsible for the impartiality of its accreditation activities and does not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality.
HKAS demands all assessment personnel and committee members who may influence the accreditation process to act objectively and ensures that they are free from any undue commercial, financial and other pressures that could compromise impartiality when making decisions. HKAS requires all assessment personnel and committee members to declare any potential or genuine conflict of interest whenever it may arise.
HKAS implements a process to manage risks to impartiality arising from its activities, which includes consultation with appropriate interested parties. Where such risks are identified, HKAS takes prompt actions to eliminate or minimise them to an acceptable level.
Codes of Ethics
HKAS operates in accordance with relevant international standards and its assessment personnel abide by the following Code of Ethics:
- Be impartial, objective, positive, open and helpful
- Avoid any situation that may give rise to real or perceived conflict of interest or compromise of impartiality
- Not solicit or accept any advantage as defined in Section 2 (1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201) in respect of all HKAS work
- Not discuss with or disclose to any third party any findings or confidential information relating to any assessment activity unless required by law or with written consent of both HKAS Executive and the assessed organisation
- Not act in any way that may prejudice the reputation and interests of HKAS and the organisation being assessed
- Only undertake assessments in which one is competent, be prepared to admit one's limitation but ready to exercise judgement within one's area of expertise
- Prepare adequately, assess diligently, focus on significant issues and report findings truthfully and fairly
- Treat all persons tactfully and with respect
- Consider seriously the views of the assessed organisation
- Cooperate fully with other members of the assessment team