ENG-1990 — Page 107

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

automatic and computer-aided knitting machinery. In the manufacture of other garments, computer-aided pattern grading and marker-making machines, plotters and automatic cutters are often found in the larger factories.

Textiles

The textiles industry employed 68 975 persons, or nine per cent of total manufacturing employment! Domestic exports of textiles products in 1990 were valued at $16,906 million.

The spinning and weaving industries produce mainly cotton yarns and fabrics for local users. The spinning sector operated 309 000 spindles producing about 204 million kilo- grams of

yarns of all fibres in 1990. The weaving sector operated some 14 000 looms and produced about 818 million square metres of woven fabrics of various fibres and blends in 1990. More shuttleless looms, including multi-gripper, rapier and air jet looms, were used to replace conventional looms.

The knitting sector produces mainly cotton fabrics for local consumption, but other fabrics like wool/acrylic and nylon/acrylic blends are also manufactured. In recent years, the knitting sector has invested heavily in modern machinery, including flat-bed and circular knitting machines, which is often used in conjunction with computer-aided design equipment. The knitting sector exported 92 million kilograms of knitted fabrics in 1990, of which 22 per cent was of man-made fibres or blended cotton man-made fibres, and 72 per cent was of cotton.

The textiles-finishing sector provides valuable support to the spinning, weaving and knitting sectors. Finishing processes include bleaching, dyeing, yarn texturising, multi- colour rolling, rotary and screen printing, sanforising, stone-wash, acid-wash, permanent press, polymerising, shearing, napping, sizing, glazing and schreinering. According to industry estimates, Hong Kong's bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing factories are able to meet 70 per cent of the local clothing industry's requirements for textile fabrics.

Electronics

The industry employed 85 468 persons, accounting for 12 per cent of total manufacturing employment. Second largest export-earner, the electronics industry exported $58,467 million in 1990, an increase of five per cent over 1989. Major export items included audio systems, television sets, calculators, electronic toys and games, telephones, modems, photo- copying machines, micro-computers and computer peripherals, computer-aided design and testing equipment, printed circuit boards, liquid crystal displays, quartz crystals, semi- conductor devices and facsimile machines.]

Hong Kong is well-known for its great adaptability and quick response to changes in external demand. The industry has been competing in the international market as an assembly centre for electronic consumer products. Besides, there is much scope for further development to move up-market towards manufacture of more sophisticated products with higher technology and better quality, notably upper-end consumer electronics, telecom- munication equipment, data processing equipment, and computer-related items.

Watches and Clocks

Hong Kong is the world's largest exporter of watches and is also an important clock producer. The watches and clocks industry is the third largest export-earner and employ- ed 27 154 persons, representing four per cent of the total manufacturing employment.

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