ENG-2002 — Page 139

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

($177.3 billion or 12.4 per cent of the total value of re-exports). The Mainland, Japan and Taiwan were the main origins of the re-exports, while the Mainland, the USA and Japan were the main destinations.

The Manufacturing Sector

Innovation, technology and relocation of lower value-added operations to the Mainland have accelerated the development of more knowledge-based and higher value-added manufacturing activities, as well as manufacturing-related services or producer services. Expansion of manufacturing activities offshore since the 1980s has turned Hong Kong into a strategic control centre of an increasingly globalised production network. In spite of the economic restructuring, the manufacturing sector remained an important sector of the economy, providing employment to 184 503 persons (8.2 per cent of the total private sector employees) in December 2002.

The printing and publishing industry was the largest employer in the manufacturing sector in 2002, followed by the clothing industry. Chart 1 shows the breakdown of employment within the manufacturing sector in 2002.

Chart 1: Number of Persons Employed by the Manufacturing Sector in 2002*

Others

25.4% (48 300)

Metal products 3.6% (6 900)

Textiles 7.2% (13 700)

Electronics 9.8% (18 600)

*As at September

Printing and publishing 22.0% (41 800)

Food and beverages 12.0% (22 800)

Clothing 20.0% (37 900)

The manufacturing sector remains export-oriented and its excellent performance contributed to Hong Kong's ranking as one of the world's leading exporters of textiles, clothing, watches and clocks, toys and jewellery. Domestic exports amounted to $131 billion in 2002 with clothing, electronics, textiles, chemical products and jewellery being the major export items. Chart 2 shows the value breakdown of domestic exports in 2002.

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