XN000022-1988-02-25 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1988

SCOPE FOR DYEING AND FINISHING INDUSTRY TO EXPAND

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ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDINGS EMERGING FROM A RECENT STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT WAS THAT THE EXISTING CAPACITY OF THE DYEING AND FINISHING INDUSTRY CAN MEET ONLY ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LOCAL TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE OPENING OF A NEW DYEING FACTORY IN THE YURN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATE THE YUEN LONG TEXTILES CO. LTD.

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MR MACLEOD SAID THE STUDY POINTED OUT THAT ANY GROWTH IN THE CAPACITY OF THE FINISHING INDUSTRY WOULD IMPROVE THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY'S SPEED OF RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL DEMAND, PARTICULARLY FOR SHORT PRODUCTION RUNS, AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF VALUE ADDED TO HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT,

WHILE IDENTIFYING CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR THE FINISHING INDUSTRY TO EXPAND, THE STUDY ALSO MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAKING GREATER USE OF THE YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATE FOR DYEING AND FINISHING OPERATIONS.

MR MACLEOD SAID THE MATTER WOULD SOON BE DISCUSSED AT THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD AND THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

"I AM FULLY CONFIDENT THAT, WITH THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND ADAPTABILITY OF OUR INDUSTRIALISTS, AND THE

GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORT GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE DYFING AND FINISHING INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR ECONOMY, HE SAID.

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VERY

NOTING THAT THE YUEN LONG TEXTILES CO. LTD. WOULD USE FINISHING PROCESSES WHICH WERE NEW TO HONG KONG, MR MACLEOD SAID THE DYEING FACTORY PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW FOREIGN INVESTMENT COULD BENEFIT THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

"AS IT IS ENVISAGED THAT 90 PER CENT OF THE FACTORY'S OUTPUT WILL BE USED IN HONG KONG, THE FACTORY WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS A RELIABLE SUPPLIER OF HIGH QUALITY FABRICS TO OUR CLOTHING INDUSTRY.

門 "[T IS THESE NEW PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT OUR INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PARTICULARLY EXIST TO ENCOURAGE, AND WHICH LED US TO RECOMMEND THAT A THIRD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE BE BUILT."

MR MACLEOD ADDED THAT THE THIRD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE PROJECT WAS BEING LOOKED AT IN DETAIL. BY THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES AND SO FAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS HAD EMERGED.

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