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Thursday, March 21, 1974
GOVERNOR TOURS OPTICAL FACTORY
.....
The Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, today toured the North
Point factory of W. Haking Industries (Mechanics & Optics) Ltd to see
manufacturing operations in progress.
The firm employs over 3,000 workers and is the largest and
most sophisticated manufacturer in the photographic and optical products
industry in Hong Kong.
Sir Murray visited the firm's 20-storey complex at Haking
Building, 981, King's Road, accompanied by the Director of Commerce
and Industry, Mr. David Jordan. They were net on arrival by the governing
directors, Mr. Haking Wong and Miss Pauline Chan.
As well as seeing manufacturing operations, Sir Murray also
visited some of the family living quarters provided for the factory's
employees.
At the end of 1973 the photographic and optical instruments
industry in Hong Kong comprised 51 factories employing 3,300 workers.
Exports of cameras and other optical instruments last year amounted to
$136 million an increase of 34 per cent over 1972.
The main overseas markets for the industry are the United States,
Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Australia and Singapore. The
value of exports has increased steadily over the past four years, averaging
an annual growth rate of 23 per cent.
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