TNAG-0621-FCO40-769-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 146

G.F. 323

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1975 and March 1976. This deceleration probably reflects the lull in

domestic demand in Hong Kong's major trading economies in the second

and third quarters of 1976 in turn affecting Hong Kong manufacturers'

decisions on whether to acquire more labour. On the other hand,

38.

although available statistics do not enable this to be firmly established,

there may be a seasonal pattem in that wage increases tend to take

place particularly at the Chinese New Year thus giving an upward bias

to the March figures.

Tables 37 and 38 /

77.

The increase in wage rates differed within the manufacturing

sector depending on the availability of the particular type of labour

required. Nominal average daily wage rates (including fringe benefits)

paid by the clothing industry increased by 18% between September 1975

and September 1976. In September 1976 the average daily wage paid was

about HK$31. The plastics products industry which usually paid lower

wages had to increase nominal average daily wage rates (including fringe

benefits) by as much as 25% to maintain its labour force and to attract

more workers. On average, a worker in a plastic flower factory received

a daily wage (including fringe benefits) around HK$28 in September 1976,

whereas a worker in a plastic toys factory received around HK$30. The

textile industry which used more skilled workers paid. HK$34 in September

1976, 12 more in money terms than in September 1975.

78.

Wage increases not only differed between industries but also

between manufacturers within the same industry. Large manufacturers,

for example, tend to pay increase wages more slowly when there is a

tight labour market, but they also pay relatively higher wages when

the labour market is slack. This is because large manufacturers, in

CONFIDENTIAL

機密