PRODUCTION
The 11th Exhibition of Hong Kong Products, sponsored by the Chinese Manufacturers' Union, was opened on 14th December, by the Governor. This was the largest of the annual exhibitions so far, with 522 stall units. Notable innovations were a general display stall, a reception bureau for overseas visitors, and a competition for the best stall display, which had a marked effect in raising the standard of presentation of exhibits. A new item of special interest was electric clocks, which are now manufactured in the Colony. For the first time in the history of these exhibitions attendance exceeded one million.
The Department of Commerce and Industry is responsible for promoting industrial development and handicrafts in the Colony. A Trade Development Division was set up in the department during the year to stimulate trade promotion. Consideration is being given to the question of providing new industrial sites in the Colony, in particular in connexion with the development of new resettlement areas.
Handicrafts and home industries are not organized on a formal basis and receive no special encouragement from Government, but production is undertaken by a very large number of small concerns located in premises among wooden shacks in squatter settlements or tenament buildings. It is estimated that as many as 200,000 persons may be employed in these small domestic-type industries.
No special encouragement is given to industry by way of income tax and import duty concessions, other than that, apart from a few revenue producing duties, the Colony is a free port and that Government regulation of trade is kept to a minimum. The duty on locally manufactured beer is, however, less than that on imported beer. All businesses are required to register with the Department of Commerce and Industry under the Business Regulation Ordinance, 1952, and to pay a moderate
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