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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is the oldest trade association in the Colony. Founded in 1861, it now has a membership of over 1,300, representing all branches of commerce and industry. Membership is open to firms and people of all races and nationalities interested in the trade of Hong Kong. The chamber is represented on a number of important government boards and committees. It is an organizing member of the British National Committee of the International Chambers of Commerce, and a member of the Federation of Commonwealth Chambers of Com- merce. Other chambers and trade associations in the Colony include the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Exporters' Association. The Exporters' Association has 73 members who are representative of more than one third of the Colony's range of exports. It works in consultation with other commercial and official bodies for the promotion and protection of Hong Kong's export trade.
The Federation of Hong Kong Industries, established by ordinance in 1960, promotes the interests of Hong Kong industry as a whole, and its membership represents all industries, many nationalities and all sizes of enterprise. In the promotion of internationally accepted standards for locally manufactured goods, the federation is respon- sible for a textile testing service, launched in consultation with the Retail Trading Standards Association in Britain. It is also studying ways and means to promote the adoption of standards of other industrially advanced countries. In 1966, the federation concluded an agreement with the Federation of Swiss Watch Manufacturers for their 'tested quality' label to be made available to Hong Kong watchcase manufacturers whose products measure up to their standards. The federation has also been engaged in negotiations with the International Wool Secretariat to enable Hong Kong manufacturers, whose products meet the required standard, to use the world-known 'woolmark'. During the year the federation began to operate a testing and certification service for lead content of paint and in plastic materials and this service is expected to expand to include all types of chemical testing.
Established in 1934, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong has a membership of over 1,400 factories. Member