ENG-1966 — Page 81

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

TEXTILES

The textile industry not only dominates Hong Kong's economy, accounting for 52 per cent of its domestic exports and employing 41 per cent of its industrial labour force, but is also a significant factor in international trade in textiles (see International Economic Relations, below). In all sectors, the manufacture and processing of cotton goods predominate. The cotton spinning mills, operating some 732,000 spindles, are among the most up-to-date in the world. Cotton yarn counts range from 10's to 60's carded and combed, in single or multiple threads. Production of all counts in 1966 was estimated at approximately 290 million pounds, the greater part of which was consumed by local weayers. In the piecegoods weaving section, which has 22,000 looms, grey cotton drill, canvas, shirting, poplins, ginghams and other bleached and dyed cloth and prints are the main items. Production of cotton piecegoods in 1966 was estimated to be approximately 650 million square yards. Much of this was exported as cloth, but there is an increasing tendency for garment manufacturers to use domestic materials.

The use of fibres other than cotton and new processes in the finishing and garment industries are assuming growing significance. Three leading textile concerns are producing polyester-cotton and polyester-viscose yarn for weaving into shirting and other fabrics for which there is now a more rapid growth in demand than for comparable cotton products. There was further development of the woollen and worsted spinning industry. Its production goes mostly to the domestic knitting industry, although some is woven into cloth. Other woven products include silk and rayon brocade of traditional Chinese design, tapes, military webbing, lace, mosquito netting, carpets and rugs. The dyeing, printing and finishing industry has concentrated on such developments as multi-colour screen and roll printing, pre-shrinking and permanent-pressing by several processes under licence, and polymerizing for the production of drip-dry fabrics.

The manufacture of garments remains the largest sector within the industry, employing 70,000 workers. A wide range and variety of clothing, from high fashion dresses to cotton singlets, is produced for export all over the world. Embroidered blouses, beaded or sequinned woollen cardigans, silk and brocade, and evening coats