The rise of Hong Kong's textile industry, 1945-1974: The role of the Hong Kong Spinners Association (HKSA)

Abstract

After the Second World War, Hong Kong attracted industrial capital from China, especially in the cotton spinning. As the bamboo curtain unfolded, this sector sought trade opportunities in foreign markets and experienced high growth rates until Hong Kong became a global exporter in the 1970s. This article aims to explore the role of the Hong Kong Spinners Association (HKSA) which managed to control the cotton spinning of Hong Kong and a share of weaving and finishing. This article uses data on industrial growth and foreign trade as well as qualitative sources on HKSA to describe the development of Hong Kong’s textile industry between 1945 until 1974. It discusses the constitution and characteristics of HKSA, its impact in the existing network of local business associations and its role in the British colony. This article argues that Chinese firms and institutions played a leading role in the export-oriented industrialisation of Hong Kong.