HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954
maintained for various reasons by certain other South East Asian territories in particular, and despite increas- ing competition from other manufacturing countries. Special attention was paid during the year to publicizing Hong Kong as a manufacuring and trading centre of growing importance, particularly through the medium of the monthly Trade Bulletin published by the Depart- ment of Commerce and Industry, and to improving the system of certification of local products under Hong Kong Government Certificates of Origin, in order to increase the confidence of overseas customs authorities in the authenticity of local products. These efforts met with some success. There have been many more inquiries from overseas about the possibilities of trade with Hong Kong, and overseas customs authorities have raised fewer difficulties over the admission of local products.
Hong Kong successfully participated in the British Industries Fair. Despite the overall decrease in the number of visitors to the Fair, 638 inquiries from visitors from 48 countries were received at the Colony's stand. The number of inquiries was 78 more than in 1953. A Colony exhibit was also displayed at the Washington State Third International Trade Fair at Seattle in February, 1954, while the Chinese Manufacturers' Union sent displays of local products to exhibitions in New York, Mexico and Indonesia.
The 12th Exhibition of Hong Kong Products, sponsored by the Chinese Manufacturers' Union, was opened on 16th December, 1954, by the Governor and ended on 12th January, 1955. Located on a new and more spacious site, this Exhibition was the largest held so far, and accommodated 654 stall units.
A compre-
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