one tenths percent (Cline, 1990, p. 58). In 1993, their relative ranking in terms of the dollar value of textile exports to the United States were in order: China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.
The Re-Orientation of Hong Kong's Textile Industry
There are a number of reasons why Hong Kong has remained among the leaders in the world textile export industry until the present time: however, that industry is undergoing a process of re-orientation from a manufacturing-based to a service-based industry. Like the other NIE'S, Hong Kong underwent rapid economic expansion during the past twenty years. Real average percentage GDP growth p.a. 1975-1989 among the NIE's has been as follows: Taiwan nine percent; South Korea eight and nine tenths percent; Hong Kong eight and three tenths percent and Singapore eight and two tenths percent (Organization for European Economic Development, 1991, p. 65).
Hong Kong has a highly skilled work force, which is very important in the textile industry. As Amsden (1989) says, "Notwithstanding the fac
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