ENG-1992 — Page 350

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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Printing and Publishing

A reputation for good printing quality, quick and reliable delivery and competitive prices continues to boost the international status of Hong Kong's printing industry. The territory is a leading centre for printing and publishing with 4 394 printing establishments, employing 38 497 people, and more than 200 publishing houses, including many from overseas which have set up offices or regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Hong Kong printers are investing substantially in advanced machinery and equipment and are taking positive steps to develop the United States market.

The industry constitutes 10 per cent of all manufacturing establishments and seven per cent of employment in the manufacturing sector. Most of the printing factories (78 per cent) are engaged in general jobbing work, and most of the remainder deal with related work, such as typesetting and book-binding. There are also 24 newspaper printers.

Use of the latest technology, especially computerised equipment, has enabled the industry to become highly specialised. The local electronics industry contributes to the plant and equipment both of the more sophisticated printing companies and of publishers, who are becoming increasingly involved in the use of data and word-processing systems for editorial production and stock control.

The output data can be converted or interfaced with typesetting equipment at realistic cost to provide publishers with the additional benefits of fast and cost-efficient printing. An increasing number of Chinese language word-processors are being installed to meet demand.

Domestic exports of printed matter increased in value terms by 12 per cent over the previous year. Material printed locally with a total value of $4,414 million was exported, with the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Australia being the main customers. Books, pamphlets, newspapers, journals and periodicals accounted for over 70 per cent of exports of printed products. The biggest customers for this reading material were the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Overall, the printing and publishing industries contributed five per cent of gross output of the manufacturing sector.

Telecommunication Services

The guiding principle underlying Hong Kong's telecommunications policy is that the widest range of services should be available to all at reasonable cost.

Hong Kong now has one of the highest telephone densities in South-East Asia. By the end of 1992, there were an estimated 3.6 million telephones served by 2.8 million exchange lines, representing a telephone density of 63 telephones per 100 population.

Basic public telecommunications services are provided under franchise by the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited and Hong Kong Telecom International Limited. Under the Telephone Ordinance, the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited has the exclusive right until June 30, 1995 to provide a public voice telephone service by wire within Hong Kong. Hong Kong Telecom International Limited has been granted an exclusive licence until September 30, 2006, to provide a range of public international telecom- munications services, including telephone, telex, telegram and leased circuits for data and facsimile.

In June, the Secretary for Economic Services announced the results of a review of telecommunications policy. From 1993 additional networks will be licensed to provide