ENG-1988 — Page 103

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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including feasibility studies, production management, new plant projects, personnel recruitment, marketing and technical assistance.

The council organised over 530 training courses for 13 500 participants, covering management and supervisory techniques, advanced programming and electronic data processing, and a range of technology programmes for various industries. It also organised exhibitions on clothing technology, computer software and automation technology. Fifteen overseas study missions and visits were organised for local industrialists to gain first-hand information on the latest technology in various areas, including diecasting and metal forming, electroplating, surface mount technology, advanced mould and die manufactur- ing, photochemical machining, tooling for electronic products, textile machinery, and just-in-time system.

The council's proposal to construct a special-purpose building in Kowloon Tong was approved by government with the granting of the site at a nominal premium and a loan from the Development Loan Fund.

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 advanced manufacturing technology and foreign investment.

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. Currently the corporation is responsible for managing two industrial estates. The Tai Po Industrial Estate, which has a total of 69 hectares of land, is virtually full. The Yuen Long Industrial Estate provides 67 hectares of industrial land, about 40 per cent of which has already been sold or allocated to manufacturers. Feasibility studies are under way with a view to developing a third estate of about 90 hectares in Junk Bay new town.

Land on the industrial estates is sold by the corporation to applicants at premia based on cost. By the end of 1988, more than 100 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 the minimum of delay. The standard factories, which can either be leased or purchased, are fully serviced and provide maximum flexibility.

External Trade

External trade was buoyant in 1988. Total merchandise trade amounted to $991,867 million, an increase of 31 per cent over 1987. Imports rose by 32 per cent to $498,798 million and re-exports by 51 per cent to $275,405 million while domestic exports increased by 11 per cent to $217,664 million. Domestic exports and re-exports together, valued at $493,069 million, registered an increase of 30 per cent. Appendices 15, 16a and 16b provide summary statistics of external trade.

Imports

Hong Kong is almost entirely dependent on imported resources to meet the needs of its population of 5.736 million and its diverse industries. In 1988, imports of raw materials and