10
HONG KONG MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN THE SIXTIES
United States but it was not until 1960 that the first restraints (in Britain) became effective. Thereafter restraints on individual items came thick and fast, reflecting increasing output of a widely varied range of goods to diverse markets; first on cottons, then in the second half of the decade on woollen knitwear; and finally, but to a limited extent, on clothing of predominantly man-made fibres. The share of total industrial output enjoyed by clothing increased from 34.8 per cent to 37.5 per cent, as measured by export value figures. Employment in the clothing industry (which properly includes employees engaged in knitting and hosiery) increased from 53,400 in 1959 to 121,000 10 years later. This industry was already the largest employer of labour in 1959; it continues so today.
The character of the clothing industry has however changed almost out of recognition during these 10 years, in keeping with the world's fashion trends. In men's wear perhaps the most marked change has been towards manufacture of man-made fibre outer garments in great variety, highly finished dress and casual shirts, and extension of the retail tailoring trade into mass-produced ready-made suits, largely sold by mail order houses, much of the business being done by air freight to the United States.
Women's clothing is sold in bewildering range in accordance with the rapidly changing dictates of fashion. Women's woollen sweaters have been the biggest single growth line in the industry, but ready-made dresses and nightwear are also important. In the last few years there has been a pronounced movement into high fashion of women's clothes of all materials. Some of the most famous fashion designers of the Western world have interested themselves in this development.
Other Industries
The share of the textile and clothing industry in total manufactur- ing output (as measured by the value of exports) has gradually declined from about 53 per cent to 48 per cent over the decade. This is not by any means true of every one of its components, whatever arbitrary breakdown is adopted. None has been attempted here because so many sections of the industry shade imperceptibly into others. But the combined textile and clothing industry is not