ENG-1996 — Page 141

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

investment partners, including the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria.

Industry Breakdown

31.3%

9.3%

9.2%

31.1%

5.1%

5.5%

8.5%

Electronics #

Textiles & clothing

5 Electrical products

Chemical products

Food and beverage

Printing and publishing

Others

Note: #Percentage for the electronics industry excludes electronic toys, watches and clocks.

Chart 3: External Investment in Hong Kong's Manufacturing Industries

38.7%

15.8%

Japan

2.4%

U.S.A

3.7%

50 China

4.8%

U.K.

7.0%

Netherlands

Switzerland

Others

27.6%

Chart 4: Source of External Investment

Documentation of Imports and Exports

As a free port, Hong Kong keeps its import and export licensing requirements to a minimum. Most products do not need licences to enter or leave the territory. Where licences or notifications are required, they are intended to achieve two main objectives. First, they help Hong Kong to fulfil its international obligations to restrain exports of textiles products and to monitor the flow of these products into and out of Hong Kong. Secondly, they are imposed on health, safety, environmental, security or anti-smuggling grounds. Items covered included strategic commodities,

97