COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Printing
A reputation for good printing quality, quick and reliable delivery, and competitive prices continues to boost the international status of Hong Kong's printing industry. Hong Kong is a leading printing and publishing centre, with 4904 printing establishments employing over 44 000 people, and more than 200 publishing houses, including many from overseas which have set up offices or regional headquarters in Hong Kong.
The industry constitutes 22.8 per cent of all manufacturing establishments and 19.3 per cent of employment in the manufacturing sector. Most of the printing factories (68 per cent) are engaged in general jobbing work, and the remainder generally deal with related work such as typesetting and book-binding. There are also 47 newspaper printers.
Hong Kong printers are investing substantially in advanced machinery and equipment. In recent years they have shifted the labour-intensive production processes to the Mainland. The use of state-of-the-art equipment, especially that employing digital technology, has enabled the industry to raise quality and productivity to new levels. Some more sophisticated printing companies and publishers have already started to switch to digital print production and electronic publishing.
Domestic exports of printed matter increased in value terms by 13.5 per cent over the previous year. Material printed locally with a total value of $4.6 billion was exported with the United States, the Mainland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and the Philippines being the major export markets. Books, pamphlets, newspapers, journals and periodicals accounted for 62 per cent of exports of printed products. Overall, the printing and publishing industries contributed 12 per cent of the manufacturing sector's gross output in 1999.
Government Laboratory
The work of the Government Laboratory covers a wide range of activities including various issues related to trade and industry. The scope of analytical and advisory services provided to other government departments has continued to expand in the areas of consumer protection, trade control of strategic commodities and the protection of endangered species.
In the area of consumer protection, the Laboratory undertook 25 179 tests during the year under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance and the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance. Assessments of the potential health and safety hazards posed by various commodities such as crayons, essential oils, baby carriers and ladders were also conducted. In mid-2000, facilities for flammability performance evaluation for pillows and polyurethane mattresses were set up in new laboratory premises. In the investigation of fraudulent trade practices, the Laboratory continued its role in fineness assay of gold and platinum articles, verification of weights and measures, and authenticity verification of wines and spirits. Other statutory duties undertaken included certification of illicit diesel oil and biodiesel containing either kerosene or duty-not-paid diesel for vehicular use.
The Laboratory has been actively involved in the preparation for the implementation in Hong Kong of the Convention on the Prohibition of the
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