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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Other Light Industries The electronics industry maintained its position as the second largest export-earner among Hong Kong's manufacturing industries. Domestic exports of electronic products in 1981 were valued at $9,174 million, compared with $8,306 million in 1980. The industry comprises 1 150 factories employing 89 485 workers. It produces a wide range of products, including radios, computer memory systems, calculators, transistors, integrated circuits, semi-conductors, pre-packaged electronic modules, television sets, smoke detectors and regular alarm systems. The distinction between this industry and others, notably toys and watches, is becoming increasingly difficult to define because of the widespread application of electronics technology to consumer products in various other industries.
The plastics industry fared well in 1981. Domestic exports during the year were valued at $6,706 million, compared with $5,397 million in 1980. The industry has 5 055 factories and 89 147 workers. Hong Kong continues to be the world's largest supplier of toys, which represented the bulk of the plastics industry's output.
The watches and clocks industry continued to expand in 1981. Domestic exports during the year were valued at $7,409 million compared with $6,576 million in 1980. The industry has 1813 factories employing 49 005 workers. Production includes both mechanical and electronic watches, clocks, watch cases, dials, metal watch bands, assembled watch movements and watch straps of various materials. It is estimated that Hong Kong now supplies over 30 per cent of world production of finished watches.
Other important light industries produce travel goods, handbags and similar articles; metal products, jewellery; domestic electrical equipment; and electrical machinery, appara- tus and appliances.
Heavy and Service Industries
Hong Kong shipyards provide a competitive repair service and build a variety of vessels. Several large shipbuilding and repair yards, operational but still under construction on Tsing Yi Island, provide services to the shipping industry. The Kwai Chung Container Terminal, which handled the equivalent of 1.55 million 20-foot containers in 1981, together with its complementary repair and manufacturing facilities, also enhances Hong Kong's position as the leading port in Asia.
The aircraft engineering industry has a high international reputation and provides maintenance, overhaul and repair facilities for most airlines operating in Asia.
The manufacture of machinery, machine tools and their parts provides support to other local industries and also contributes to Hong Kong's export trade. Of particular impor- tance are blow moulding, injection moulding, and extrusion machines of up to 9 070 gram capacity for the plastics industry; power presses; lathes; shapers and drilling machines; polishing machines; printing presses; textile knitting and warping machines; and electro- plating equipment.
External Trade
Total merchandise trade in 1981 amounted to $260,537 million, an increase of 24 per cent over 1980. Imports went up by 24 per cent to $138,375 million, domestic exports by 18 per cent to $80,423 million and re-exports by 39 per cent to $41,739 million. Domestic exports and re-exports together, valued at $122,163 million, registered an increase of 24 per cent.
Appendices 3 and 4 provide summary statistics of external trade, including a breakdown by country and commodity, and comparisons with previous years.