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MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1975
GREAT STRIDES BY WATCH AND CLOCK INDUSTRY
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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, SPOKE TODAY OF THE GREAT STRIDES MADE IN HONG KONG BY THE WATCHI AND CLOCK INDUSTRY.
+TEN YEARS AGO,+ HE SAID, +HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF WATCHES, CLOCKS, PARTS AND ACCESSORIES AMOUNTED TO ONLY $22 MILLION. IN 1974 THOSE EXPORTS TOTALLED $680 MILLION, AND OVER THE SAME PERIOD EMPLOYMENT IN THE INDUSTRY ROSE FROM 4,000 TO 13,000.+
THESE FIGURES, HE SAID, ILLUSTRATED THE GREAT CHANGES THAT HAVE RAPIDLY TAKEN PLACE IN THE INDUSTRY AS IT HAS GROWN.
MR. JORDAN WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND ASIAN HOROLOGICAL INDUSTRY AND TRADE PROMOTION CONFERENCE AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION CENTRE.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS GLAD HONG KONG HAD BEEN CHOSEN AS THE PLACE TO HOST THE CONFERENCE, BECAUSE IT GAVE HONG KONG THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS RELATIVELY NEW WATCH AND CLOCK INDUSTRY AND ITS POSITION AS A TRADING CENTRE FOR TIMEPIECES MANUFACTURED ELSEWHERE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD PROGRESSED FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCHBANDS TO CASES, DIALS, HANDS AND CROWNS, HE ADDED: +AND WHEREAS WE USED TO IMPORT ALL THE MOVEMENTS WE NOW ALSO IMPORT EBAUCHES AND ASSEMBLE THEM HERE,+
+LIKE MANY OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES, HE CONTINUED, +THE WATCH AND CLOCK INDUSTRY HAS NEVER STOOD STILL BUT IS ALWAYS ADVANCING. WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO THE PRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC QUARTZ WATCHES.+
HONG KONG'S TRADE OF COURSE IS NOT LIMITED TO EXPORTING ITS OWN PRODUCTS. FOR EXAMPLE, HONG KONG IMPORTED IN 1974 5.5 MILLION WATCHES OF WHICH 4.9 MILLION WERE RE-EXPORTED.
MR. JORDAN EXPLAINED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES IN ASIA WERE IMPORTANT PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATES OF OUR HOROLOGI AL TRADE AND INDUSTRY.
MR. JORDAN ALSO SPOKE ABOUT HONG KONG'S EFFO::TS IN COMBATING WATCH COUNTERFEITING.
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+WE ARE NATURALLY PROUD CF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR TRADE AND INDUSTRY. AT THE SAME TIME WE REALISE THAT IF THI HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND ITS CONTRIBUTIOL. TO OUR PROSPERIT ARE TO CONTINUE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT MALPRACTICE IN THE TRADE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED, + HE SAID.
MR. JKDAN