ENG-1987 — Page 94

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

The council celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1987. With the increasing demand for its services, the council sought a grant of land in Kowloon Tong during the year for the construction of a special-purpose building to bring all its activities under one roof and to accommodate its planned expansion.

The council is the government's implementing agent on all matters concerning the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO). During the year, under the sponsorship of the APO, the council held two seminars, attended by delegates from most Asian countries, on strategic land use and environmental management.

The Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation

The Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation develops and manages fully-serviced industrial estates to enable industries with a relatively high level of technology that cannot operate in ordinary multi-storey factory buildings to set up in Hong Kong. There are two industrial estates. The Tai Po Industrial Estate now has a total of 69 hectares of land. The Yuen Long Industrial Estate provides 67 hectares of industrial land.

Land on the industrial estates is sold by the corporation to applicants at premia based on cost. By the end of 1987, 91 companies had been granted sites on the two estates.

Besides providing sites to industrialists for the construction of their own purpose-built factory buildings, the corporation also provides pre-built factory premises for those who wish to begin production with a minimum of delay. These standard factories are fully serviced and provide maximum flexibility. One four-storey standard factory and three blocks of single-storey standard factories in each of the estates have been constructed and occupied and a contract has been awarded for a further two single-storey standard factories to be built on the Yuen Long Industrial Estate.

By the end of 1987, 52 hectares of land remained available for application. Consideration is being given to the construction of a third industrial estate.

External Trade

External trade was buoyant in 1987. Total merchandise trade amounted to $755,982 million, an increase of 37 per cent over 1986. Imports rose by 37 per cent to $377,948 million and re-exports by 49 per cent to $182,780 million while domestic exports increased by 27 per cent to $195,254 million. Domestic exports and re-exports together, valued at $378,034 million, registered an increase of 37 per cent. Appendices 15 and 16 provide summary statistics of external trade.,,

Imports

Hong Kong is almost entirely dependent on imported resources to meet the needs of its population of 5.66 million and its diverse industries. In 1987, imports of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods totalled $165,470 million, representing 44 per cent of total imports. The principal items imported were fabrics of man-made fibres ($17,734 million); transistors, diodes, semi-conductors and integrated circuits ($12,690 million); plastic moulding materials ($11,590 million); woven cotton fabrics ($10,678 million); iron and steel ($7,939 million) as well as watch and clock movements, cases and parts ($8,587 million).

Consumer goods, valued at $119,990 million, constituted 32 per cent of total imports. The major consumer goods imported were: clothing ($25,944 million); radios, television receivers, gramophones, records, amplifiers and tape recorders ($12,785 million); diamonds ($8,278 million); baby carriages, toys, games and sporting goods ($7,382 million); watches ($6,459 million); travel goods, handbags and similar containers ($5,912 million) as well as cameras and photography supplies ($3,916 million).