ENG-2006 — Page 132

104 Commerce and Industry

The printing and publishing industry was the largest employer in the manufacturing sector as at December 2006, followed by the food and beverages industry. Chart 1 shows the breakdown of employment within the manufacturing sector as at December 2006.

Chart 1

Number of Persons Employed by the Manufacturing Sector as at December 2006

Others 25.7% (41 000)

Chemical products

3.3% (5 200)

Electronics 7.5% (12 000)

Clothing 11.1% (17 700)

Printing and publishing

24.3% (38 800)

Food and beverages 16.3% (25 900)

Textiles 11.8% (18 800)

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 clothing, watches and clocks, toys, jewellery and textiles. Domestic exports amounted to $134.5 billion in 2006 with clothing, electronics, chemical products, jewellery and textiles being the major export items. Chart 2 shows the value breakdown of domestic exports in 2006.

Chart 2

Value of Domestic Exports of the Manufacturing Sector in 2006

Others

16.6% ($22.293 billion)

Printing and publishing

2.1% ($2.862 billion)

Textiles

3.0% ($4.120 billion)

Jewellery 5.5% ($7.375 billion)

Chemical products 7.0% ($9.383 billion)

Electronics

27.0% ($36.259 billion)

Clothing

38.8% ($52.233 billion)