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Santa's Playground
Toys and games have never failed to excite the minds of young and old alike. For walking into a toy shop is like entering a world of make-believe where the imagina- tion is stimulated by wandering through an assortment of fantasies; a child can become an astronaut or a knight in shining armour. But the supply of toys is serious big business in Hong Kong, which is the world's largest manufacturer of these im- plements for fantasy. In 1981, for example, more than $6,000 million worth of toys and games were exported from Hong Kong, with the largest markets being the United States, Europe and Latin America. And more than 60 000 people are actively engaged in the business of making the world smile, whether they are placing microscopic computer chips in electronic games or sewing hair on cuddly dolls. Many of the territory's 2 000-odd toy fac- tories have won international awards for design and compete vigorously for places at toy fairs around the world to market their goods. At the seventh Hong Kong Toy and Gift Fair held in October, 200 booths were manned by local manufac- tures and attracted some 5000 buyers. They came looking for ingenuity, fun and good quality attributes which have contributed so much to the success of Hong Kong's toys. Quality, in particular, is carefully guarded by the Toy Industry Committee which has been set up by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.
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Previous page: Engrossed in a world of colourful make-believe, these children play out their fantasies with toys which suit every occasion. Left: Toys are found all over Hong Kong: in sophisticated stores; suburban shops; and street stalls.
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