ENG-1956 — Page 97

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

71

and aluminium strips and sheets. Production is mostly absorbed locally by extensive building projects and the metal products industries, although sizeable quantities of bars and rounds are shipped abroad, principally to Asian territories.

LIGHT INDUSTRIES

Textiles. Since 1948 the textile industry has expanded rapidly to become the Colony's major industry. Spinning of cotton, rayon, silk and woollen yarns, weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing, and the manufacture of all types of garments and textile goods is carried on. 300,000 spindles are operated in the mills, some of which are among the most modern and well-equipped in the world. First class amenities for workers are generally provided. Counts of yarns range from 10s to 60s, carded and combed, single or multiple threads. Several mills are equipped with the most up-to-date combing plant to improve quality and for spinning yarns of finer counts. Total output of yarns of all counts is about 82 million lbs. each year. Much of the production is utilized by the local weaving industry, but exports are substantial.

Several of the spinning and weaving mills are equipped with modern automatic looms. Sheetings, shirtings, drills, mats, osnaburgs, cellular fabrics, checks and suitings are produced, grey sheetings being the most important single item. Tapes, webbing, lace, and silk and rayon brocade in traditional Chinese designs are also woven.

In the garment-making section of the industry all types of clothing are produced; shirts are the most important, but silk and brocade house-coats and tea gowns, embroidered blouses, underwear and nightwear have a worldwide sale in quality markets.

The knitting mills produce a variety of articles including towels, tee-shirts, singlets, underwear, outerwear, nightwear, swimsuits, gloves, socks and stockings in silk, cotton and wool.