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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
THE REPORT FORECASTS THAT THE TWO SECTORS WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT THEIR ACTIVITIES TO THE ASSEMBLY OF COMPONENT PARTS AND TO BE FAIRLY LABOUR-INTENSIVE.
+LARGE-SCALE AUTOMATION IS UNLIKELY MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED AND THE LACK OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT,+ IT SAID.
THE STUDY REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THAT SOME MANUFACTURERS ARE TRANSFERRING PART OF THEIR OPERATIONS TO CHINA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAP LABOUR AND LAND THERE.
THE NEXT STUDY IN THE SERIES WILL BE ON THE TOYS INDUSTRY. PREPARATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN AND AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT HAS BEEN ENGAGED TO PROVIDE MARKET RESEARCH INFORMATION SO THAT THE REPORT WILL INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT AND LIKELY FUTURE TRENDS IN HONG KONG'S MAJOR MARKETS.
FRENCH QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
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A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT NOTICE HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES THAT THE RESIDUAL QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS OF DIGITAL QUARTZ WATCHES TOYS AND RADIOS FROM HONG KONG HAD BEEN LIFTED WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1987.
HONG KONG'S EXPORTS TO FRANCE IN THESE ITEMS AMOUNTED TO $188 MILLION IN 1986.
FRANCE HAD BEEN MAINTAINING QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST IMPORTS OF A NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM HONG KONG SINCE THE 1960'S.
AS A RESULT OF HONG KONG'S REPRESENTATIONS THROUGH BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EEC AND IN THE GATT, THE NUMBER OF ITEMS HAD BEEN GRADUALLY REDUCED OVER THE YEARS.
COMMENTING ON THE RECENT LIFT OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE THREE PRODUCTS. THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THE LIBERALISATION OF THE FRENCH RESTRICTIONS AGAINST IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG HAD BEEN FINALLY COMPLETED.
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