ENG-1980 — Page 40

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Other Light Industries

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The electronics industry maintained its position as the second largest export-earner among Hong Kong's manufacturing industries. Domestic exports of electronic products in 1980 were valued at $8,306 million, compared with $6,582 million in 1979. The industry comprises 1,197 factories employing 88,883 workers. It produces a wide range of products, including radios, computer memory systems, calculators, transistors, integrated circuits, semi-conductors, pre-packaged electronic modules, television sets, smoke detectors and burglar alarm systems. The borderline between this industry and others, notably toys and watches, is becoming increasingly difficult to define because of the spreading application of electronics technology.

The plastics industry fared well in 1980. Domestic exports during the year were valued at $5,397 million, compared with $4,808 million in 1979. The industry has 4,816 factories and 86,314 workers. Hong Kong continues to be the world's largest supplier of toys, which represented the bulk of the plastics industry's output.

The watches and clocks industry continued to expand in 1980, particularly in the electronic watches sector. Domestic exports during the year were valued at $6,576 million, compared with $4,623 million in 1979. The industry has 1,054 factories employing 40,628 workers. Production includes both mechanical and electronic watches, clocks, watch cases, dials, metal watch bands, assembled watch movements and watch straps of various materials.

Other important light industries produce travel goods, handbags and similar articles; metal products; jewellery; domestic electrical equipment; and electrical machinery, appa- ratus and appliances.

Heavy and Service Industries

Hong Kong shipyards provide a competitive repair service, and many of the yards also build a variety of vessels. Several large shipbuilding and repair yards, still under construc- tion on Tsing Yi island, are now providing services to the shipping industry. The Kwai Chung Container Terminal, which handled the equivalent of 1.48 million 20-foot containers in 1980, together with its complementary repair and manufacturing facilities, also enhances Hong Kong's position as one of the leading ports in Asia.

The aircraft engineering industry has a high international reputation and provides main- tenance, overhaul and repair facilities for most airlines operating in Asia.

The manufacture of machinery, machine tools and their parts provides support to other local industries and also contributes to Hong Kong's export trade. Of particular importance are blow moulding, injection moulding, and extrusion machines of up to 9,070-gram capacity for the plastics industry; power presses; lathes; shapers and drilling machines; polishing machines; printing presses; textile knitting and warping machines; and electro- plating equipment.

External Trade

Total merchandise trade in 1980 amounted to $209,893 million, an increase of 30 per cent over 1979. Imports went up by 30 per cent to $111,651 million; domestic exports by 22 per cent to $68,171 million and re-exports by 50 per cent to $30,072 million. Domestic exports and re-exports together, valued at $98,242 million, registered an increase of 29 per cent.

Appendices 3 and 4 provide summary statistics of external trade, including a breakdown by country and commodity and comparisons with previous years.