1.
SV Girl decorating Christmas tree
0.06

2.
CU Various Christmas lights flashing (3 shots)
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3.
CU & SV Woman drilling holes in light sockets with machine (2 shots)
0.25

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CU Glass tube zoom out to GV of man blowing light bulb
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CU SV man blowing light bulb
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CU Light bulbs zoom out to GV of woman testing light bulbs
0.51

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CU & SV Worker screwing light bulbs into sockets (2 shots)
1.07

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SV Girl testing Christmas lights
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GV Girls packing Christmas lights
1.25



Initials SC/1653 SC/1728



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The prospects of a bright Christmas this year look dim.

The impact of the Arab outback in oil production has prompted many Government to enforce strict measures to conserve energy. High on the list is a ban on outdoor Christmas lighting.

But the ban had little effect on the manufacture of Christmas lights in Hong Kong.

For the past few months, Hong Kong's 15 decorative lighting factories have been producing lights for Christmas trees all over the world The factories are small and often very compact, each employing not more than 50 workers.

Work has continued unaffected by the drop in demand for Christmas lights, because this year's orders were filled as early as October. The factories are now producing lights for next year's holiday season. The factories' owners are reported to be optimistic about the future. Last year they produced over 2,000,000 U.S. dollars (GBP 800,000 sterling) worth of lights. This year, the figure passed 3,000,000 U.S. dollars (GBP 1,200,000 sterling).