Section 4
Manpower
One of the most important factors in Hong Kong's successful emergence as a manufacturing territory has been a supply of hardworking and versatile but relatively inexpensive labour.
Availability
The economically active population is over 2 million, about 45 per cent of the total. About 880,000 persons are employed directly in manufacturing industry. The distribution of employment in the major manufacturing sectors is shown in Table 10.
The continued expansion of manufacturing industry that has occurred since the 1960s, together with its greater sophistication, has led to industry-wide demands for engineers, technologists, technicians and skilled operatives. Graduates of the two universities, the Polytechnic, technical schools and institutes, together with those returning from overseas studies, satisfy demands for the first three. The many secondary schools and vocational training institutes also ensure a supply of intelligent and adaptable workers at the operative level. The Government has taken steps to ensure that the supply of skilled labour is maintained. Some overseas companies prefer to bring high-level technical staff from their parent firms to establish their Hong Kong manufacturing operations, and to assist in training local staff. Special immigration arrangements can usually be made to facilitate their stay.
Hardworking and skilled operatives are easily available.
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