TNAG-0434-FCO40-499-UK-interest-in-labour-and-social-affairs-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 76

FUTURE LABOUR REQUIREMENTS

Hong Kong's economy is dependent on its manufacturing industries and it is likely that this dependence will continue. On this assumption, it has been estimated that Hong Kong's labour requirement for manu- facturing industries between 1966 and 1981 will take the following pattern:-

table 15

1966-1981

(number of workers in thousands)

year

1966

1971

1976

1981

workers

551

677

811

954

It is estimated that the average annual increase of labour in manufacturing industries during the period 1966-1981 will be about 30,000 persons.

AVAILABILITY OF LABOUR

Although Hong Kong does not have a large pool of unemployed, there is believed to be a certain degree of under-employment in the smaller and technologically backward sectors of industry in which wages. and conditions are relatively poor. These workers are potentially mobile and appear to be ready to move on to better and more attractive jobs, particularly those which offer better financial remuneration.

Labour for industrial investment is available provided that factories are set up in areas accessible to pools of labour and attractive wages and conditions are offered.

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