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Plastics
INDUSTRY AND TRADE
The plastics industry produces a large variety of products including toys and dolls, household products, travel goods and handbags, packaging products, plastic footwear and plastic flowers. It accounted for five per cent of the total domestic exports and nine per cent of the total industrial employment in 1988. Domestic exports of plastic products during the year were valued at $11,847 million compared with $13,876 million in 1987. The industry has 5 572 establishments and 72 412 workers. Hong Kong continues to be one of the world's leading suppliers of toys, which accounted for most of the industry's output.
Electrical Appliances
The electrical appliances industry accounted for three per cent of the total domestic exports and three per cent of the total industrial employment in 1988. Domestic exports of electrical appliances during the year were valued at $5,460 million, a decrease of three per cent over 1987. The industry has 689 establishments and employs around 25 482 workers. Hong Kong continues to be one of the world's leading suppliers of electro-mechanical and domestic fans, which accounted for about 12 per cent of the industry's exports.
Other Industries
Other important light industries produce metal products, jewellery, optical and photo- graphic goods and travel goods, handbags and similar articles.
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 importance are blow-moulding, extrusion, and injection-moulding machines of up to 21 030 gram injection capacity for the plastics industry; power presses; lathes, shapers and drilling machines; polishing machines; printing presses; textile knitting and warping machines, and electroplating equipment.
Hong Kong's 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 construct and service oil rigs.
The aircraft engineering industry has a high international reputation and provides extensive maintenance and repair services. Facilities are available for the complete overhaul of airframes and engines for many types of aircraft.
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Industry Development Board
The Industry Development Board, chaired by the Financial Secretary, is the government's advisory body on all major industry-related matters. Members of the board include prominent industrialists, government officials and representatives from the tertiary educa- tion sector and other trade and industry organisations.
Support for Industry
The government's industrial policies aim at facilitating growth through the provision of necessary infrastructural support and at encouraging industry to enhance its competitive- ness through developments in the support services which promote productivity growth, quality improvement, design innovation and industrial investment.
Industry Department
The Industry Department is responsible for the implementation of the government's industrial policies. It carries out techno-economic and market research studies on the major