An independent association of spinners and weavers is essential to the operation of a textile industry in any territory because the spinners and weavers are capable of producing fabrics domestically for direct supply to other branches, including the apparel makers. For example, the first modern Hong Kong spinning mill began operations in 1947, and in 1988 the industry celebrated its 40th anniversary. On that occasion I was invited to contribute a congratulatory message to the Association's 40th Anniversary publication. At the end of my message I wrote that so long as the Territory's spinners and weavers remained "fully competitive in price, quality and delivery times.... they will assuredly survive in good shape not only to 1997, the industry's 50th anniversary, but to its Centenary in 2047", 50 years after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
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