Watches and clocks

Hong Kong's watches and clocks industry was established in the 1950's.  The invention of electronic watches in the mid 1970's was the turning point for the development of Hong Kong's watches and clocks industry, which marked the beginning of another era.

From 1980 to 1982, Hong Kong was the world's third largest exporter of watches and clocks in terms of value, followed by Japan.  From 1981 to 1987, Hong Kong's domestic exports of watches and clocks increased by 105%, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 16%.

Today Hong Kong is the world's second largest exporter of complete watches in terms of both value and quantity, while its exports of complete clock, rank the largest and second largest in terms of both value and quantity respectively.  With an export value of 8,973 million in 1998, the watches and clocks industry is the fourth largest export earner in Hong Kong's industry by value, next only to clothing, electronics and textiles industries.

One of the territory's major watch making factories, based in Aberdeen, uses computerised equipment to ensure that watches have the correct thickness of gold or silver plating.		A clock manufacturer is introducing new products to his foreign client in the showing room.

A Tuen Mun factory specializes in traditional hand-painted and carved wall clocks with cases made of rosewood or teak.

A factory operating in small premises in a multi-storey building in Tai Kok Tsui produces easy-to-read wall clocks which are exported worldwide.

A craftsman at work on cases for grandfather clocks.