XN000022-1993-11-19 — Page 14

INDUSTRY

13

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1993

AS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 1993

(MONTHS)

CHANGE WHEN COMPARED WITH AUGUST 1993 SEPTEMBER 1992

(%)

(%)

ALL MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED

4.37

1

E

WEARING APPAREL

4.49

- 1

-5

TEXTILES

1.95

-2

-8

PLASTIC PRODUCTS

2.75

-5

+8

FABRICATED METAL

PRODUCTS

4.54

*

ELECTRICAL AND

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

5.94

+1

+5

OTHERS

3.80

-4

A ch

* CHANGES WITHIN +/-0.5%

REVIEW ARTICLE ON MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

THE

SEPTEMBER

1993 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS CONTAINS A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ANALYSING THE PERFORMANCE AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN 16 MAJOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG FROM 1981 TO 1991.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID CHANGES IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES DURING THE PERIOD HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANT.

IN THE EARLY YEARS, LOCAL MANUFACTURERS WERE INCREASINGLY SUBJECT TO THE PRESSURE OF TIGHT LABOUR MARKET, RISING PRODUCTION COSTS AND KEEN COMPETITION FROM OTHER NEWLY INDUSTRIALISED ECONOMIES IN THE OVERSEAS MARKETS.

"ONE STEP TAKEN BY MANUFACTURERS TO CONTAIN PRODUCTION COSTS AND IMPROVE EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS WAS TO RAISE PRODUCTIVITY BY MEANS OF INVESTMENT IN MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.

"ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ADOPTION OF AN OPEN DOOR POLICY BY MAINLAND CHINA HAD OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID.

椰

INCREASINGLY, LOCAL MANUFACTURERS RELOCATED THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES ACROSS THE BORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOWER LABOUR AND LAND COSTS.

TO DATA

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ANALYSIS WAS MADE WITH REFERENCE COLLECTED IN THE ANNUAL SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION CONDUCTED THE DEPARTMENT.

BY

/THE HONG