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FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1975
INDUSTRIAL JOINT VENTURES THRIVE IN HONG KONG
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THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. JIMMY MCGREGOR, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HE WAS POSITIVE THAT HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT WAS AGAIN EXPANDING.
HE ALSO SAID THAT JOINT VENTURES BETWEEN LOCAL AND FOREIGN FIRMS COULD CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO INDUSTRIAL GROWTH,
MR. MCGREGOR MADE THE REMARKS DURING A VISIT TO TWO INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS THIS AFTERNOON - THE INTERNATIONAL CONTAINERS LTD. AND THE SAM FAT HING STEEL FACTORY LTD.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN FOR MANY YEARS PROMOTING, AND WAS STILL PROMOTING, SUCH PARTNERSHIPS IN OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. HE SAID THERE WAS A GOOD RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL JOINT VENTURES IN HONG KONG.
MR. MCGREGOR CALLED FIRST AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONTAINERS LTD., A JOINT HONG KONG -- AUSTRALIA VENTURE SITUATED ON TSING YI ISLAND.
THE PLANT PRODUCES BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 CONTAINERS A YEAR, AND HAS PLANS TO INCREASE ITS OUTPUT TO ABOUT 9,000 A YEAR, IT IS THE ONLY FACTORY OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG.
MR. MCGREGOR SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURE OF CONTAINERS IS AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT INDUSTRY FOR HONG KONG GIVEN OUR HEAVY RELIANCE ON EXPORT TRADE AND THE RAPID CONVERSION OF SEA-BORNE AND AIR-BORNE TRAFFIC FROM CONVENTIONAL CARRIAGE TO CONTAINERS.
THE INDUSTRY WAS ALSO HEAVIER IN CHARACTER THAN MOST OTHER'S IN HONG KONG AND EMPLOYED A FAIRLY HIGH PROPORTION OF MALE WORKERS, HE SAID.
+ IT IS THE SORT OF INDUSTRY WHICH, IN MY OPINION, COULD WELL BE LOCATED SUCCESSFULLY IN OUR PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL ESTATES,+ HE SAID.
MR. MCGREGOR SPENT OVER AN HOUR AT THE CONTAINER FACTORY. HE WAS SHOWN ROUND THE PREMISES BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, MR. R.H. ASH, AND MR. PAUL LIM, SUB-MANAGER OF CHIAP HUA MANUFACTORY, THE LOCAL PARTNERS IN THE JOINT ENTERPRISE.
AT THE SAM FAT HING STEEL FACTORY LTD. - THE SECOND STOP OF THE DAY MR. MCGREGOR SAW WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS +A GOOD EXAMPLE+ OF THE MANY HUNDREDS OF METAL PROCESSING FACTORIES WHICH PROVIDE HONG KONG INDUSTRY WITH SUBSTANTIAL ENGINEERING CAPABILITY AND STRENGTH.
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/HE BELIEVED, ....
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