XN000022-1982-08-13 — Page 6

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1982

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CALL TO KEEP UP EXPORT

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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR PETER TSAO, TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS TO KEEP THEIR LEADING POSITION IN THE EXPORT MARKETS BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO PRODUCE HIGHER QUALITY PRODUCTS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES.

ADDRESSING THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE HONG KONG FACTORY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, HE SAID1 +1 AM GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE GARMENT INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS GRADUALLY MOVED UP-MARKET IN RESPONSE TO DEMANDS FOR HIGH QUALITY FASHION GOODS.

+WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMES TAILORED TO THE INDUSTRY'S REQUIREMENTS, THE RISING MANAGEMENT COSTS FOR PRODUCTION CONTROL AND THE NEED TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY, I THINK IT IS INEVITABLE THAT TEXTILE FACTORIES WILL INCREASINGLY USE COMPUTER ISED SYSTEMS IN THEIR OPERATIONS.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT A HIGH RATE OF INVESTMENT AND A READINESS TO INTRODUCE NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MEET COMPETITION - PARTICULARLY THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE ADVANCE EQUIPMENT FOR PRODUCTION PROCESSES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY.

+OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS (1977-81), THE NUMBER OF FACTORIES AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY INCREASED BY SIX PER CENT AND FIVE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY ON A YEARLY AVERAGE, ILLUSTRATING THAT NEW INVESTMENT IS ENTERING THE INDUSTRY AT A STEADY PACE,+ HE SAID.

MR TSAO WAS CONFIDENT THAT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, THE TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY WOULD REMAIN THE MAINSTAY OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY.

BRITISH YOUTHS CALL ON GOVERNOR xxx

SIX YOUNG BRITONS VISITING HONG KONG UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (FRIDAY).

IN THE GROUP FROM SOUTH GLAMORGAN, WALES, ARE MISS ELAINE JOHNS, MISS JENNIFER LENCZNER, MR BRIAN JOHNSON, MR BRIAN MURPHY, MR ANDREW KNILL AND MR PETER HIGGINS.

THEY PRESENTED THE GOVERNOR WITH A BOOK ON SOUTH GLAMORGAN,

A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH GLAMORGAN COUNTY COUNCIL, AND A PLAQUE.

THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MISS SARAH WU, AND THREE OF THE SIX HONG KONG YOUTHS WHO VISITED THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER THE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME LAST YEAR.