Hong Kong’s footwear industry will develop strongly over the next year, according to the Chairman of the Hong Kong Rubber & Footwear Industry Association, Mr. Gao zhou. He pointed out that despite a small fall in the quantity of footwear exports from Hong Kong in the first half of 2001, there was a 21% rise in products locally produced, compared with the majority that originate in China.

Footwear exports in Hong Kong from January to August 2001 dropped 7% overall, with a value of HK$32.4 billion, compared with the same period in 2000. Mr. Gao zhou, said he believed that in 2002 the value of shoes made in Hong Kong would rise along with overall footwear exports. The reasons he gave for this were the prospects of freer trade following China’s entry to the WTO, and a recent international agreement allowing footwear finished in Hong Kong but with parts such as the upper, sole and heel processed in China to be regarded as ‘Made in Hong Kong’.

Mr Gao zhou admitted that the period following the terrorist incidents of September 11 had seen a slowdown in orders but added that stocks of shoe products in the US and elsewhere are now down. This means that if there is any kind of global economic recovery in 2002 the stock will need to be replenished, and Hong Kong will be ideally placed as the gateway to mainland China.