ENG-1962 — Page 121

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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Kingdom and the United States which at present between them take over 40 per cent of the Colony's domestic exports. With this in mind Government undertook promotional activities in West Africa and the Middle East during the year and made plans for promotion in, among other areas, East and Central Africa in 1963.

The Nigerian International Trade Fair, held in Lagos from 27th October to 18th November, offered an opportunity to exhibit Hong Kong products in West Africa for the first time. The Colony's stand of 2,000 square feet displayed a wide selection of goods carefully selected for the West African market and proved to be one of the most popular features of the fair. A delegation of 14 led by Mr Cha Chi-ming, a member of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board, recorded 1,078 inquiries covering a wide variety of Hong Kong manufactures. Two months before Hong Kong's participation in this fair, Government acted on the advice of the British Embassy in Lomé, the capital of Togo, and sent an officer of the Commerce and Industry Department to investigate the opportunities for developing a market there for Hong Kong products.

Following an exploratory visit by an officer of the Commerce and Industry Department toward the end of 1961, Government organized the despatch of a trade mission to tour 11 Middle Eastern countries during January 1963. In order to cover the area effectively the mission, consisting of two officials and five business- men, was organized in two groups with different itineraries. Both groups left Hong Kong on 27th December.

Trade promotion at home received attention during the year in the form of a permanent display centre of Hong Kong products which His Excellency the Governor opened on 24th October. Situated on the second floor of the High Block of the City Hall, the centre provides facilities for the display of some 2,500 items of local manufacture, and is in effect a ‘shop window' designed to stimulate the interest of business and tourist visitors in the growing variety of Hong Kong merchandise. By changing part of the display monthly it is possible to afford all sections of industry the chance to show their products.

The trade development branch of the Commerce and Industry Department is responsible for organizing the Colony's official