TNAG-0621-FCO40-769-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 119

G.F. 323

23.

CONFIDENTIAL #2 機密

11.

Both economies of scale in production and competition from

neighbouring countries contributed to a rapid decrease in the average

From an average export price

export price of electronic calculators.

of HK$183 in the first quarter of 1974, this decreased to 39 in the

fourth quarter of 1976. Despite this drop in price, the value of

domestic exports of electronic calculators in 1975 was 119 higher

than in 1974; in 1976 it was 5% higher than a year ago. The number

of electronic calculators exorted in 1976 reached 8.6 million, 70%

higher than in 1975 which was in turn 346% higher than in 1974.

during 1976, there were signs that the very large number of electronic

calculators exported had saturated overseas markets. The quantity of

electronic calculators exported in the fourth quarter of 1976 was 40%

less than the quantity exported in the first quarter.

But

Imports

24.

Imports in 1976, at HK 43,293 million were 29% higher than

imports in 1975. Most of this increase was accounted for by higher

quantities which, for the first three quarters in 1976, were 30% above

the corresponding period in 1975. So, import nrices were only 2%

higher. The quantum indexes of imports for Cctober and November 1976

were respectively 17% and 14% higher than for similar months in 1975;

the unit value indexes were 5% higher for both months. Import

prices have thus accelerated slightly. But, because of the appreciation

of the Hong Kong dollar, the increase for 1976 as a whole was below

the rates of inflation experienced elsewhere in the world and domestic

prices remained fairly stable.

25.

The quantity of imports in the first, second and third

quarters of 1976 were respectively 39, 35% and 17% higher than in

CONFIDENTIAL

機密