TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Domestic exports of printed matter increased in value terms by nine per cent over the previous year. Material printed locally with a total value of $4,937 million was exported, with the USA, the UK, Taiwan, Australia and China being the main customers. Books, pamphlets, newspapers, journals and periodicals accounted for 68 per cent of exports of printed products. The biggest customers for this reading material were the USA, the UK and Australia. Overall, the printing and publishing industries contributed seven per cent of the gross output of the manufacturing sector.
External Investment
The Industry Department's 1995 Survey of External Investment in Hong Kong's Manufacturing Industries identified 424 manufacturing companies either wholly or partly owned by overseas interests. The total value of inward direct investment in manufacturing was $43,969 million. These companies employed 67 509 persons (16 per cent of total manufacturing employment) and accounted for 28 per cent of Hong Kong's total domestic exports.
Information on external investment in Hong Kong's manufacturing industries by sectors and by source is given in Charts 3 and 4. In addition, 2 068 multi-national companies had established regional headquarters and offices in Hong Kong to conduct and co-ordinate their regional economic activities in 1995.
The department promotes and facilitates foreign investment in Hong Kong's manufacturing industries, thereby encouraging technology transfer to enhance pro- ductivity, quality and diversification of local manufacturing. It operates overseas Industrial Promotion Units in Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Brussels and London, and also the One-Stop Unit in Hong Kong. These provide advice and
Industry Breakdown
31.6%
Electronics #
30.2%
Electrical products
Textiles & clothing
9.6%
Food & beverage
Chemical products
4.7%
Metal products
7.1%
Others
8.6%
8.2%
96
Note: #Percentage for the electronics industry excludes electronic toys, watches and clocks.
Chart 3: External Investment in Hong Kong's Manufacturing Industries