XN000022-1984-11-29 — Page 10

9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1984

LOCAL GOODS GET BIGGER MARKET SHARE

*****

OVER 30 PER CENT OF PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE ON FOOD AND CONSUMER GOODS IN HONG KONG IS ON LOCAL PRODUCTS, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY TOLD THE RETAIL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, TODAY.

+THIS HEAVY EXPENDITURE ON CONSUMER GOODS IS OBVIOUSLY OF GREAT BENEFIT TO LOCAL MANUFACTURERS,+ MR YAXLEY SAID.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE ASSOCIATION'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY DINNER.

MR YAXLEY SUGGESTED THAT RETAILERS COULD ASSIST INDUSTRY EVEN MORE BY CO-OPERATING WITH MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON CONSUMER TASTES AND DEMAND TO HELP THEM TO CAPTURE AN EVEN GREATER SHARE OF THE MARKET.

+ THE RELATIVE MARKET SHARE OF LOCALLY PRODUCED GOODS HAS BEEN CREEPING UP FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IF WE CAN COMPETE SO SUCCESSFULLY OVERSEAS, SURELY THERE MUST BE EVEN GREATER SCOPE ON OUR OWN DOORSTEP, + HE SAID.

ESTIMATED SALES FOR THE ENTIRE RETAIL TRADE IN 1983 AMOUNTED TO $57 377 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN 11.5 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1982.

IN JUNE 1984, THERE WERE 46 785 RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS IN HONG KONG EMPLOYING 165 288 PERSONS.

+THIS IS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ECONOMIC LIFE. OUR SUCCESS IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY ESPECIALLY, WHERE SHOPPING IS ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS, IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF OUR ABILITIES IN THE RETAIL SECTOR.

+WITH THE GROWTH OF OUR SERVICE INDUSTRIES AND THE ENTREPOT TRADE WITH CHINA, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT RETAILERS WILL BENEFIT FROM CONTINUING INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF VISITORS COMING TO HONG KONG OR PASSING THROUGH TO AND FROM CHINA,+ MR YAXLEY SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS PART IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RETAIL INDUSTRY AND HAS SPECIFICALLY RECOGNISED THIS IN THE TRAINING AREA.

+AS DEMAND FOR TRAINED PERSONNEL IN THE SECTOR HAS INCREASED, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HAS SET UP A WHOLESALE-RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRAINING BOARD TO DETERMINE TRAINING NEEDS,

+SUBSIDISED COURSES ON CUSTOMER SERVICES, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES AND FUNDAMENTALS OF SALESMANSHIP IN RETAILING HAVE BEEN ORGANISED FOR THE INDUSTRY, AND OTHER COURSES WILL BE DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE INDUSTRY'S NEEDS,+ MR YAXLEY SAID.

/10

Page 10Page 11