ENG-1957 — Page 103

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ANNUAL

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

of cotton, rayon, silk and woollen yarns, weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing, and the manufacture of all types of garments and textile goods are carried on. The spinning mills, operating over 300,000 spindles, are amongst the most up-to-date in the world and first class amenities are generally provided for workers. Cotton yarn counts range from 10s to 60s carded and combed in single or multiple threads. Production of all counts in 1957 was over 100,000,000 lbs., of which approximately 70% was consumed by local weaving establishments.

In the weaving section, cotton grey drill, canvas, shirting, striped poplins, ginghams, and other bleached and dyed white cloth and prints are the main items. Production in 1957 was estimated to be in excess of 220,000,000-square yards. Over 50% of the production is exported but there is a tendency for this to decrease. As the quality of locally woven and finished cloth improves, the Colony's garment manufacturers turn the more readily to utilizing local materials. Other products of the Colony's weaving industry are silk and rayon brocade of traditional Chinese design, tapes, webbing and lace, carpets and rugs.

Dyeing, printing and finishing of textiles in the Colony has shown a marked advance during the past few years, although this section has rather lagged behind other sections in speed of development. Multi-colour printing in up to six colours can be undertaken, and in 1957 a sanforizing plant was installed in one mill which now produces, under licence, approximately one million yards of sanforized pre-shrunk cotton cloth a month for use in the local garment industry and for export. Further refinements and improvements in the finishing of textiles, particularly in cottons, are planned for the near future.

An almost unlimited range and variety of garments is manufactured in Hong Kong, the most important being shirts. Silk and brocade house and evening coats, tea gowns