Hong Kong: From an industrialised city to a centre of manufacturing-related services

Abstract

Significant transformation of economic activities has taken place in Hong Kong in the past two decades. Hong Kong's manufacturing industry has declined substantially relative to its service industry, in terms of employment and of contribution to GDP. Hong Kong has emerged as a centre of services, mainly manufacturing-related producer services. While growth of producer services is expected in most advanced economies, Hong Kong's transformation from an industrialised city to a centre of manufacturing-related services has been dramatically speeded up by the opening-up of the mainland Chinese economy in the past two decades. In addition to its relocation of manufacturing to mainland China, Hong Kong has played an increasingly important role as an intermediary for trade between mainland China and the world market.