INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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The weaving sector, with 22 443 looms, produced 692 million square metres of woven fabrics of various fibres and blends, compared with 630 million square metres in 1982. The bulk of the production - 90 per cent was of cotton. Much of the fabric produced was exported in the piece, but local clothing manufacturers used the major proportion of locally woven and finished fabrics.
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of which 27 The knitting sector exported 19 million kilograms of knitted fabrics per cent was of man-made fibres or blended cotton man-made fibres, and 73 per cent was of cotton compared with 13 million kilograms in 1982. In addition, a large quantity of knitted fabric of all fibres was used by local clothing manufacturers.
The finishing sector of the industry provides sophisticated support facilities to the spinning, weaving and knitting sectors. It handled a large amount of textile fabrics for bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing. The processes performed included yarn texturising, multi-colour roller and screen printing, transfer printing, preshrinking, permanent pressing and polymerising.
The clothing sector is the largest single sector within the manufacturing industry, employing some 283 860 workers or about 33 per cent of the total industrial workforce. Domestic exports of clothing in 1983 were valued at $34,365 million, compared with $28,824 million in 1982.
Other Light Industries
The electronics industry performed remarkably well in 1983 and maintained its position as the second largest export-earner among Hong Kong's manufacturing industries. Domestic exports of electronic products in 1983 were valued at $18,532 million, compared with $12,475 million in 1982. The industry comprises 1 351 factories employing 94 631 workers. It produces a wide range of products, including radios, computer-memory systems, calculators, transistors, integrated circuits, wafer chips for integrated circuits, semi- conductors, prepackaged electronic modules, television sets, electronic games, smoke detectors, burglar alarm systems, micro-computers and telecommunication equipment comprising digital dialers, cordless telephones and telephones with built-in memories. 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 1983. Domestic exports during the year were valued at $8,019 million, compared with $7,869 million in 1982. The industry has 5 092 factories and 83 187 workers. Hong Kong continues to be the world's largest supplier of toys, which represented the bulk of the plastic industry's output.
The watches and clocks industry performed well in 1983. Domestic exports during the year were valued at $8,566 million compared with $7,452 million in 1982. The industry has 1848 factories employing 42 210 workers. Production includes both mechanical and electronic watches, clocks, watch cases, dials, metal watch bands, assembled watch movements and watch straps of various materials.
Other important light industries produce travel goods; handbags and similar articles; metal products; jewellery; domestic electrical equipment; electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances; and optical and photographic goods.
Heavy and Service Industries
Hong Kong shipyards provide a competitive repair service and build a variety of vessels. Several large shipbuilding and repair yards on Tsing Yi Island provide services to the shipping industry and the construction of oil rigs for exploration activities.