ENG-1983 — Page 45

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

The port of Hong Kong, which ranks among the top three container ports in the world, handled approximately 1.83 million TEU's (20-feet equivalent units) in 1983.

The aircraft engineering industry has a high international reputation and provides maintenance, overhaul and repair facilities for most Asian airlines.

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 electroplating equipment.

Industry Department

The department comprises four divisions. The Environment and Resources Division handles a wide variety of issues involved in looking after the interests of the industrial sector. It maintains close liaison with local trade and industrial organisations in represent- ing their views to relevant government departments. Among specific subjects dealt with are the monitoring of raw material supplies (in particular fuel and other essential oil products), the provision of adequate infrastructural facilities including the smooth movement of freight within and outside Hong Kong at equitable freight rates, and the examination of the effects of environmental legislation on industry.

The Industrial Development Division is responsible for the policy aspects of industrial investment promotion, including the formulation of an overall promotion strategy. It co-ordinates the organisation of industrial promotion programmes with industry and trade organisations and advises the government on industrial land matters.

The Promotion Consultancy Division is responsible for providing comprehensive information about Hong Kong to potential investors and assisting them in evaluating and setting up manufacturing projects in Hong Kong, liaising with the department's overseas industrial promotion offices.

The Science and Technology Division comprises the secretariat for the Industry Development Board, formerly the Industrial Development Board. The division is also responsible for the administrative aspects of product standards and quality certification services; for up-dating legislation on weights and measures and its subsequent implemen- tation; and for the management of an overseas consultancy planning an international exhibition centre in Hong Kong. On technical support aspects, it is responsible for setting up the government's new standards and calibration laboratory; for management of the consultancy on accreditation of testing laboratories; and for the provision of technical input to the Industry Development Board on applied research and development and transfer of technology matters. The division also provides technical advice and assistance to the Industry Department as a whole.

External Trade

Total merchandise trade in 1983 amounted to $336,142 million, an increase of 24 per cent over 1982. Imports went up by 23 per cent to $175,442 million, domestic exports by 26 per cent to $104,405 million and re-exports by 27 per cent to $56,294 million. Domestic exports and re-exports together, valued at $160,699 million, registered an increase of 26 per cent. Appendices 3 and 4 provide summary statistics of external trade.

Hong Kong is almost entirely dependent on imported resources to meet the needs of its population of more than 5.3 million and its diverse industries. In 1983, imports of raw

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