XN000022-1980-09-12 — Page 5

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1980

FIRST, CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS CONTINUES TO BE RAPID DESPITE THE RECESSIONARY CLIMATE PREVAILING IN THE ECONOMIES OF SOME OF HONG KONG'S MAJOR MARKETS-

SECONDLY, THE SURGE OF THE RE-EXPORT TRADE WHICH STARTED IN 1978 CONTINUES APACE, UNIQUELY FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR AND SO, IN CONSEQUENCE.

THIRDLY, THE GROWTH RATE OF IMPORTS IS ALSO HIGHER THAN THE RATE LOGICALLY IMPLIED IN THE BUDGET SPEECH FORECASTS OF THE COMPONENTS OF TOTAL FINAL DEMAND-

FOURTHLY, INVESTMENT IN PLANT AND MACHINERY IS PROVING TO BE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

BUT, FIFTHLY, HIGHER THAN EXPECTED PRICES IN 1980 COMPARED WITH 1979 APPEAR TO BE EXERCISING A FURTHER CONSTRAINING EFFECT ON CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, BOTH BY THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

ROLE OF PACKAGING IN HONG KONG TRADE

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+THE PACKAGE IS YOUR SALESMAN, ESPECIALLY IN THESE DAYS OF SELF SERVICE,+ SAID THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR BILL DORWARD TODAY WHEN HE OPENED THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON +RECENT TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN PACKAGING+.

MR DORWARD UNDERLINED THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE - AND THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION GAINED IN THE FIELD OF PACKAGING IN HONG KONG OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS. HOWEVER, HE QUESTIONED WHETHER HONG KONG INDUSTRY IS YET DOING ANYTHING LIKE ENOUGH TO USE THE TALENT THAT IS UNDOUBTEDLY AVAILABLE.

+ THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS STILL HAS SOME WAY TO GO TO OVERCOME DIFFIDENCE, AND THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF WORLD MARKETS, WHICH CAUSES MANUFACTURERS TO RESORT TO PRINTERS AND COMMERCIAL ARTISTS TO PRODUCE SOME EXPEDIENT LABELLING, RATHER THAN TO HARNESS THE PROFESSIONAL SKILL AND IMAGINATION OF A DESIGNER,+ HE SAID.

+I SUPPOSE IT MUST SOMETIMES SEEM THAT THE EXTRA EXPENSE OF USING DESIGNERS IS ONE AREA WHERE, IN DAYS OF RISING COSTS AND NARROW PROFIT MARGINS, A LITTLE SAVING CAN BE MADE. BUT IS THIS NOT A FALSE ECONOMY, IF - AS A CONSEQUENCE OF DULL, PROSAIC PACKAGING THE GOODS LIE UNSOLD IN THE DEPARTMENT

- STORES AND SUPERMARKETS OR SELL TO ONLY A FRACTION OF THEIR POTENTIAL?+ HỆ ASKED,

MR DORWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE MADE IN HONG KONG LABEL IS NOW GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS STANDING FOR GOOD QUALITY AT A FAIR PRICE. IN ADDITION, IT ALSO CONJURES UP THE COLOUR AND EXCITEMENT AND VISUAL STIMULATION ASSOCIATED WITH HONG KONG AND THE VISUAL ARTS OF CHINA.