INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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abolished Commonwealth preference rates of duty. Nevertheless, 19 Commonwealth countries continue to grant Commonwealth preferential rates of duty to Hong Kong products. To support claims to preference for exports to nearly all of these countries, the Trade, Industry and Customs Department issues certificates of origin with an endorsement to show the Commonwealth content of the products. The value of exported goods covered by endorsed certificates of origin and Commonwealth preference certificates in 1977 was $677 million.
An estimated 53.8 per cent of Hong Kong's domestic exports are covered by cer- tificates of one type or another 43.1 per cent of them by government-issued certificates.
During the year, representatives of the Trade Facilitation Committee, an advisory body to the Director of Trade, Industry and Customs and to industrial and other organisations on standardising and simplifying trade documents and trade procedures, attended a series of international trade facilitation meetings. These provided oppor- tunities for Hong Kong to learn from, and exchange views with, national and inter- national bodies in the forefront of developing modern methods and techniques to handle trade documentation and trade procedures.
Trade, Industry and Customs Department
The Commerce and Industry Department was reorganised in July, 1977, and became the Trade, Industry and Customs Department. The responsibilities of the department include the conduct of overseas commercial relations, industrial development and investment promotion, certification of origin, trade controls, and the collection and protection of revenue from dutiable commodities. The work of the department is complemented by several autonomous institutions either wholly or partly-financed from public funds.
On matters of policy affecting trade and industry other than textiles, the Director of Trade, Industry and Customs takes advice from the Trade and Industry Advisory Board, of which he is chairman. It comprises senior unofficial representatives of various sectors, including commerce, industry, banking and insurance. The board is nominated by the Governor and usually meets once a month. The Textiles Advisory Board is a more specialised body, also chaired by the director, and is consulted on matters affecting the textiles industry. It met on 58 occasions during 1977. Both these boards are served by specialist committees as the need arises.
The Trade, Industry and Customs Department is made up of two parts the Department of Trade, headed by the Director of Trade, and the Department of Industry and Customs, headed by the Commissioner of Industry and Customs. The department has three overseas offices in Brussels, Geneva and Washington - and
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also is represented in the Hong Kong Government Office in London.
The Director of Trade is assisted by a deputy director and three assistant directors, who head two Commercial Relations Divisions and a Textile Controls Division respectively.
The Commercial Relations Divisions are responsible for preparing and conducting trade negotiations with other governments. They also collect and disseminate informa- tion on trade policy measures taken by other countries that may affect Hong Kong, and take part in the activities of international organisations.