XN000022-1973-08-09 — Page 2

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Thursday, August 9, 1973

INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT REACHES NEW HIGH

Hong Kong's industrial work force reached an all-time high of

625,087 in June this year, according to an industrial employment survey

carried out by the Census and Statistics Department on behalf of the Labour

Department.

This represents an increase of 8,478 or 1.4 per cent over the figure

for the previous quarter ending March 31.

At the same time, a record number of 22,108 industrial establishments

were recorded an increase of 313. Compared to June last year, this represents

a rise of 8.3 per cent.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, a spokesman for the Labour

Department said the figures clearly showed that both the employment situation

and the number of industrial establishments "are in a very healthy state",

contrary to some recent reports.

While the percentage increase in the industrial labour force appeared

small, it more than made up for the three per cent down turn recorded in the

previous January-March quarter, he said.

The biggest expansion in employment occurred in the electronics industry

which went up by 5,134. The next highest was the plastics industry with an

increase of 2,303, followed by metal products, up by 1,496, and cotton weaving,

up by 1,014.

/However,