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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
trade promotion activities, answering trade inquiries and arranging for the reception of overseas trade missions and business visitors. During the year Government-sponsored trade missions from Afghanistan, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Sudan and Tanganyika visited the Colony, in addition to several un- official missions and a large number of individual businessmen and foreign Government officials.
The branch also publishes and distributes the annual Commerce, Industry and Finance Directory, and the monthly Trade Bulletin. The Directory is a comprehensive guide to Hong Kong business in its economic and administrative setting; the 1962 edition was published in July. The Trade Bulletin is a general guide to Hong Kong's products in magazine form and each month features different aspects of the commercial and industrial scene. Both these publications are illustrated in colour and are distributed free to overseas businessmen.
The need has been increasingly felt in the Colony for more widespread commercial public relations overseas, of a kind which could best be carried out by commercial and industrial associations. To meet this need Government agreed to a subvention of $1,600,000 a year for two years to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Com- merce and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. This sub- vention was double the sum expected to be derived from an increase in the stamp duty on export and import declarations. At the same time a committee to co-ordinate commercial public relations for the Colony-was established, with members from Government and interested associations.
Statistics. Every month the statistical branch of the Commerce and Industry Department publishes 'commodity by country' statis- tics of the quantity and value of all goods imported, exported and re-exported. These are classified in accordance with the Hong Kong imports and exports classification list, which is based on the United Nations standard international trade classification. 'Country by commodity' statistics are also tabulated and are available in the department, but are not published. The trade statistics are compiled on punched card machinery from declarations which importers and exporters are required by law to file with the department.