The British manufacturing sector expanded strongly in the first quarter of 2004, a survey showed on Thursday. The British Chambers of Commerce said manufacturers reported progress in most areas in the first quarter with the survey's home sales balance rising to +19 from +17. The home orders balance more than doubled to +17 from +8 in the previous quarter, its highest level since the fourth quarter of 1999. And despite worries about the pound's recent strength against the dollar hurting manufacturers' competitiveness, export sales and orders were at seven-year highs.|||