製造業是香港二十世紀六十至八十年代的重要經濟支柱，「香港製造」所以為優質產品的代名詞，源於香港工業輝煌的歷史。香港理工學院（現為香港理工大學)高級講師馬端納先生及其研究助理陳世娟女士對本世紀初至現代的香港外銷產品設計的歷史，進行深入研究，同意通過由歷史博物館所舉辦的展覽及出版本目錄，公開其辛勸研究的成果，俾廣大市民能了解香港外銷工藝品、工業產品、包裝、印刷及時裝等設計的發展、風格和策略。
The manufacturing industry was an important economic pillar of Hong Kong from the 1960s to the 1980s. The reason why "Made in Hong Kong" is synonymous with high-quality products stems from Hong Kong's glorious industrial history. Mr. Matthew Turner, a Senior Lecturer of the Hong Kong Polytechnic (now The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), has been studying the history of Hong Kong export design from around the turn of the 20th century down to modern times. Mr. Turner and his research assistant, Miss Brenda Chan Sai-kuen have kindly agreed to results of this research with the public through an exhibition organised by the History Museum of History and the publication of this catalogue which gives a succinct and strategies of design for Hong Kong's export of crafts, industrial products, packaging, printing and fashion.