18
INDUSTRY AND TRADE
clothing, electronics, plastic products, toys, and watches and clocks industries. These industries accounted for 72 per cent of Hong Kong's total domestic exports in 1982 and are likely to continue to predominate, despite the fact that industrial diversification continues to be a feature of the overall economic scene.
The Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation, a statutory body established in March 1977, develops and manages industrial estates which are intended to accommodate industries with a relatively high level of technology that cannot be operated in ordinary multi-storey factory buildings which house the bulk of Hong Kong's industries. The first two stages of the Tai Po Industrial Estate now provide 45 hectares of land for allocation to industries while the third stage, presently under construction, will produce a further 20 hectares by 1985. A second estate, which is now being built at Yuen Long, will provide an additional 65 hectares of land. This estate is scheduled for completion in 1983. By the end of the year, 193 applications had been received by the corporation and sites had been granted to 37 companies in the Tai Po and Yuen Long Industrial Estates.
Besides offering sites to industrialists for the construction of their own purpose-built factory buildings, the Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation is also in a position to offer pre-built factory premises for purchase or rental by those who wish to commence production with the minimum of delay. The standard factories are fully serviced four-storey buildings with units constructed with maximum flexibility to suit the varied requirements of potential occupiers.
Outside the industrial estates, 26 sites with an overall area of 101 380 square metres were sold for industrial use in 1982. Special development conditions were attached to nine of them. These lease conditions called for the provision of heavy floor loading capacities and high ceilings on some floors to accommodate certain types of machinery; and in the case of smaller sites, for 20 per cent of the space provided to consist of units not larger than 75 square metres to cater for small industries.
The government also proceeded with the construction of flatted factories to accom- modate, in permanent buildings, squatter workshops and small operators cleared for public purposes. Four factory blocks were completed in 1982 comprising 5 038 units normally of 25 square metres each.
Industrial Development Board
During 1982, the Industrial Development Board continued its work in respect of industrial support facilities and technical back-up services for industry. On its advice, the Industry Department made progress in establishing a standards and calibration laboratory to provide facilities for industry's needs, with a view to later extension to other fields. of measurement. Consultants from Australia and Hong Kong were commissioned to advise on accreditation of testing laboratory services, technology transfers, and, based on techno-economic studies, the development of the electronics industry and the metals and light engineering industries. With the board's support, three micro-electronic projects were under various stages of implementation in the two universities and the Hong Kong Polytechnic.
The Industrial Development Board is chaired by the Financial Secretary and comprises representatives of trade and industry, the academic field and government officials. It has two committees, the Advisory Committee on Science and Industrial Research to advise on technical matters relating to science and industrial research, and the Advisory Committee on Technical Information for Industry Services to advise on the provision and dissemination of technical information to industry.