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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Form 'A' certificates are issued by the Trade Industry and Customs Department to support exports claiming preferential entry into countries which grant tariff preferences to Hong Kong under generalised preference schemes. These are Austria, Canada, the European Economic Community, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The five government-approved certification organisations have been approved to issue preference certificates for exports to Canada, Japan and Switzerland. The value of exports covered by Form 'A' certificates in 1979 amounted to $13,011 million.
During the year, the Trade Industry and Customs Department was represented overseas at seminars on the generalised preference schemes, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Development Programme. Although Britain abolished Commonwealth preferential rates of duty from July 1, 1977, nine Commonwealth countries continue to grant Commonwealth preferential rates of duty to Hong Kong products. To support claims of preference for exports to 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 for Commonwealth preference in 1979 was $19 million. :
An estimated 58.1 per cent of Hong Kong's domestic exports are covered by origin cer- tificates of one type or another - 44 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 trade organisations on standardising and simplifying trade documents and procedures - attended a series of international trade facilitation meetings in Europe and Canada. These meetings provided opportunities for Hong Kong to learn from, and exchange views with, other bodies con- cerned with trade documentation and trade procedures. During the year, several seminars organised by the Trade Facilitation Committee were held in Hong Kong to publicise the aligned series of export document forms - the 'Hong Kong Aligned Documents Implementa- tion' - which are expected to be widely used by the trade,
The Trade Investigation Branch of the Trade Industry and Customs Department is responsible for the inspection of factories and consignments connected with applications for certificates of origin. It carries out investigations and prosecutions relating to mal- practices which contravene the Import and Export Ordinance, Merchandise Marks Ordinance and Copyright Ordinance.) It is also responsible for industrial surveys on specific industries, trade and industrial problems, and foreign investments. Additionally, the branch is responsible for handling trade complaints, and plays an active role in the consumer protection field in conjunction with the Consumer Council.
In 1979, the Trade Investigation Branch completed some 41,000 inspections of factories and consignments; 1,400 costing checks in connection with applications under the general- ised system of preference schemes (Form 'A'); and 691 comprehensive investigations relating to infringements of legislation. Legal action was taken against 324 companies and people, and fines amounting to $2 million were imposed by courts.
The branch also completed 19,000 inquiries and verifications related to trade declara- tions and manifests, and conducted 2,524 associated investigations resulting in the collection of $1.4 million in ad valorem charges and administrative penalties.
During 1979, tight control was maintained on textiles exported under quota arrange- ments, with close liaison between various units of the Trade Industry and Customs Depart- ment. The protection of consumers and traders under the appropriate industrial property