13
CONFIDENTIAL &
10
4.
4.1
Effects of a cut-back in trade potential on employment in Hong Kong
About 50% of the manufacturing
labour force are employed in textile and
clothing factories and the manufacturing
labour force represent about 45% of the
total labour force. The total labour force
has been growing and will probably continue
to grow at about 3% a year and productivity
at a trend rate of about 4 5% a year.
4.2
-
Against this background, the
effects which the limits Mr. Tran proposed for
the 7 sensitive items would have on Hong Kong's
domestic exports can be translated into their
The proposed
consequences on employment.
limits for 1978, being in real terms 14% less
than actual exports in 1976, would render
10,000 people unemployed. In addition, the
loss of job opportunities resulting from the
lack of growth compared with the
CONRUMENTTI I
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