“Hongkong will stage an official exhibit at the Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany, in September,” reported the South China Morning Post on February 29, 1956. “This is in line with the Hongkong Government policy to bring the Colony’s manufactured goods to the attention of prospective buyers in as many countries as possible.
“Hongkong will stage an official exhibit at the Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany, in September,” reported the South China Morning Post on February 29, 1956. Photo: SCMP Archives
Arrangements are being made for Hongkong to take over part of a pavilion. This will give it 200 square metres of space in which to stage its exhibit which will be more than twice the size of the biggest ever put on by the Colony at the British Industries Fair.”
On August 22, the Post reported that “a large and representative selection of Hongkong products has been collected and was despatched to Frankfurt early this month. A price list is being prepared to cover the 1,658 items which have been grouped under 50 headings.”
“Requests for general trade information were made by several business visitors who called at the Department of Commerce and Industry in July. Five of them were from the United States: one wished to import steel and aluminium products; another was seeking general contacts with Hongkong exporters of local products; and a third wanted to invest money in a factory manufacturing brassieres.”
Workers using sewing machines to make garments at a clothing factory in Hong Kong, circa 1960. Photo: Getty Images
The August 3 edition brought good news, as “the first firm order – for 4,000 [British pounds] worth of rubber footwear – was booked in the Hongkong opening of the Frankfurt International Fair today. From then on despite the fact that this was a day set aside for the general public, trade enquiries were registered at the rate of ten an hour.
“On the whole the German public has been greatly impressed by the high quality and wide range of Hongkong products on show here. But misunderstanding as well as appreciation of good workmanship is international and there is clearly a job of education as well as salesmanship to be done here. One indignant visitor was heard to remark: ‘What cheek for Red China to exhibit in Frankfurt.’ He was surprised – and one hopes glad – to learn that Hongkong is not part of the Communist world.”