XN000022-1976-09-13 — Page 4

3

·

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1976

LADY MACLEHOSE TO VISIT LEATHER GARMENT FACTORY

******

LADY MACLEHOSE WILL BE PAYING A VISIT TO A LEATHER GARMENT FACTORY IN KOWLOON TOMORROW (TUESDAY).

THE FACTORY, JARDINE WICKING LTD, IS SITUATED AT NO. 4 HUNG TO ROAD, KWÜN TONG. IT PRODUCES LEATHER JACKETS AND COATS OF SUEDE, SHEEPSKIN, GOATSKIN, PIG SKIN, LEATHER AND TEXTILE FABRICS. ITS PRINCIPAL MARKETS ARE THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND HONG KONG IN THAT ORDER.

LADY MACLEHOSE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY A PRINCIPAL TRADE OFFICER OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, MR. NICHOLAS YEK. SHE WILL BE MET ON ARRIVAL AT THE FACTORY BY THE MANAGER AND PRODUCTION MANAGER, MR. MICHAEL SCHAPIRA AND MR. EDMAND LEUNG.

THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE ARE GREATLY INTERESTED IN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS, AND MAKE VISITS TO FACTORIES PERIODICALLY.

THERE ARE 12 FACTORIES IN HONG KONG MANUFACTURING LEATHER GARMENTS. THEY EMPLOY A TOTAL OF OVER 380 WORKERS REPRESENTING 1.5 PER CENT OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY'S TOTAL EMPLOYMENT.

IN 1975 HONG KONG EXPORTED ABOUT 730,000 LEATHER GARMENTS VALUED AT $125 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 31.2 PER CENT IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND 41.8 PER CENT IN TERMS OF VALUE OVER 1974. IN THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR EXPORTS ROSE BY 4 PER CENT IN QUANTITY AND 20 PER CENT IN VALUE COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE UNITED STATES IS HONG KONG'S PRINCIPAL MARKET FOR LEATHER GARMENTS, ITS SHARE OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL EXPORTS HAS BEEN DECREASING.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER LADY MACLEHOSE'S VISIT. LADY MACLEHOSE ARRIVES AT THE FACTORY AT 10.30 A.M. AND WILL SPEND ABOUT AN HOUR TOURING THE PREMISES. YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS KINDLY ASKED TO BE AT THE FACTORY AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE HER ARRIVAL.

/4