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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, today (March 4) visited the 32nd Hong Kong International Jewellery Show organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
Mr So toured the major exhibition zones of the show and learnt from exhibitors about their sales situation. He was also updated by industry players on the latest developments in the jewellery industry, and exchanged views with them on moving the industry up the value chain.
"Although many processes of jewellery production have already been relocated to the Mainland, various high-value-added tasks are still carried out in Hong Kong," Mr So said.
"Jewellery was Hong Kong's largest domestic export item in 2014, with total export value reaching more than $7.6 billion, or 13.8 per cent of total domestic exports in value terms," he said.
"With the introduction of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), various jewellery products originally subject to tariff rates between 3 per cent and 35 per cent can be exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland tariff-free. This arrangement is conducive to the development of the jewellery industry in both places."
The five-day Hong Kong International Jewellery Show is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre starting today. Various local and overseas exhibitors have joined the show, which focuses on exhibiting finished jewellery products. The HKTDC is also holding the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show at AsiaWorld-Expo as a specialised trade platform for loose stones and jewellery raw materials. The two jewellery shows have this year attracted over 4 300 exhibitors from 52 countries and regions as participants.
Ends/Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:35
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