TNAG-0938-FCO40-1157-Visit-of-John-Nott--Secretary-of-State-for-Trade--to-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 95

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

1.5.

The major sources and destinations of HK's total trade in commodities are as follows:

1978 HK $ bn.

Imports

Re-exports

Exports

Balance

UK

3.0

3.9

+ 0.9

Japan

14.4

2.3

1.9

-10.2

China

10.6

-10.6

USA

7.6

1.2

15.1

+ 8.7

W. Germany

2.1

4.4

+ 2.3

Switzerland

2.1

0.3

0.7

+ 1.1

Australia

1.2

1.5

+ 0.3

Singapore

3.2

1.4

1.7

- 0.7

Taiwan

4.3

- 4.3

S. Korea

1.8

0.6

E. Indonesia

1.3

1.2 + 1.3

1.6.

However, in the textile and clothing sectors, HK is a substantial exporter:

2.

2.1.

1978 HK $ mn.

Imports

Re-exports

Exports Balance

Fibres

1,800

250

Yarns and Fabrics

8,700

1,800

2,900

Clothing

1,300

500

15,700

11,800

2,550

18,600

+ 9,350

In 1979, the UK trade with HK in manufactured goods was as follows:

UK Exports

Imports

1979 £ mn

Clothing

Other mfgrs

Others

8.5 307.8

433.5

442.0

383.2

691.0

The potential HK market for UK Yarns and Fabrics

In attempting to sell yarns and fabric to HK, for incorporation into garments for re-exporting to the UK, the UK textile industry is at a disadvantage on a number of counts:

the time factor, which both lengthens the merchandising cycle and slows down reponse times to repeat orders.

the proximity of HK to a number of competitors with in-built advantages:

USA

S. Korea and Taiwan

China and India

who have a large home market for bulk products, low chemical feedstuff prices and are base crop growers.

who have low cost labour and protected domestic markets.

who have low cost labour and are base crop growers of cotton:

It is also important to consider and evaluate the emergence of China as a textile and clothing trader and especially the implications of its strategy of creating development areas to attract external expertise and resources.

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