1
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1975
SPECIAL REVIEW ON SALIENT FEATURES OF INDUSTRIES
A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ANALYSING THE SALIENT FEATURES OF HONG
KONG INDUSTRIES APPEARS IN THE JULY ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST
OF STATISTICS NOW ON SALE.
THE ARTICLE IS BASED ON RESULTS OF THE 1973 CENSUS OF INDUSTRIAL
PRODUCTION CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT BETWEEN
APRIL 1974 AND FEBRUARY 1975.
THE ANALYSIS ARE CONFINED TO REPORTING MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS
ENGAGING 20 OR MORE PERSONS. THIS CATERGORY OF ESTABLISHMENTS (INCLUDING
THOSE THAT WERE OPERATING DURING 1973 BUT WERE CLOSED IN 1974) WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR 84 PER CENT OF THE AMOUNT OF VALUE ADDED TO MATERIALS BY
THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AND EMPLOYED 77 PER CENT OF THE MANUFACTURING
LABOUR FORCE.
SOME INTERESTING STRUCTURAL INFORMATION WAS REVEALED IN THE ARTICLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE OVERALL LABOUR COST PER PERSON ENGAGED IN
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS WITH 30 OR MORE PERSONS WAS $9,653 PER
ANNUM IN 1973.
THERE WERE HIGHER AVERAGE EARNINGS RECORDED IN THE INDUSTRY GROUPS
ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE AND FIXTURES, BASIC ITAL INDUSTRIES,
AND MANUFACTURE OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, LABOUR COST PER PERSON ENGAGED IN GARMENT
FACTORIES WAS BELOW AVERAGE; THE SAME APPLIED TO PLASTIC FACTORIES AND FACTORIES
ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS, APPLIANCES
AND SUPPLIES.
PRODUCTIVITY MEASURED IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED PER PERSON ENGAGED
WAS HIGHER FOR LARGER ESTABLISHMENTS BUT ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGING 1,000 PERSONS
OR MORE APPEARED TO BE LESS FAVOURABLE WHEN COMPARED WITH ESTABLISHMENTS
WITH 500-999 PERSONS.
/THE CAPITAL/LABOUR .....