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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Hong Kong Trade Development Council The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, a statutory body established in 1966, is responsible for promoting and developing international trade with particular emphasis on Hong Kong's exports. Its chairman is appointed by the Governor, and the other 16 members include representatives of major trade associations, leading businessmen and industrialists, and two senior government officials. The council is financed by: a grant from public funds; the net proceeds of an ad valorem levy on exports and on imports other than foodstuffs; and minor income from miscellaneous sources such as advertising fees and sales of publications.
The staff of the council carried out an extensive trade promotion programme in 1981, organising about 70 major international projects. These included an economic mission to Paris; and another to the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Germany. These missions were aimed at strengthening high-level contacts with senior government officials and business and industrial leaders of the host countries and developing trade promotional opportunities.
Other promotional projects mounted during the year included a gala fashion show at the Salon International du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin in Paris in April, and participation in many international trade fairs around the world - notably, the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, Cologne International Houseware Fair, the Swiss Industries Fair in Basle, MACEF International Fair in Milan, Birmingham International Spring Fair, Frankfurt Spring Fair, Summer Consumer Electronics Show and National Hardware Show in Chicago, Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Tokyo Chain Stores Fair, Japan Electronics Show in Osaka, and Cairo International Fair.
In addition, the Trade Development Council organised business group visits to Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Japan and Australia to explore new markets as well as to buttress long established ties. In reciprocation, the council received inward missions from Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, China, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden and the U.S.
In Hong Kong, the council was the sole organiser of the seventh Hong Kong Toy and Gift Fair and acted as advisor to the first Hong Kong Electronics Fair, both held in October.
The Trade Development Council produces four regular publications, mainly for cirulat- ion overseas. They are the monthly Hong Kong Enterprise, the half-yearly Hong Kong Apparel, the annual Hong Kong Toys and the two-monthly news magazine Hong Kong Trader. The council also puts out a series of multi-lingual newsletters to keep overseas businessmen informed of the latest financial and industrial developments in Hong Kong.
In 1980-1, the Trade Development Council opened its first African office in Nairobi, Kenya, and its second Japanese office in Osaka. Besides its headquarters in Hong Kong, and a local branch in Tsuen Wan, the council has staff stationed in 19 other cities throughout the world. These are: London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Paris, Marseille, Stockholm, Zurich, Vienna, Milan, Amsterdam, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto, Panama City, Tokyo and Sydney. The council is also represented by consultants in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; Barcelona, Spain; and Athens, Greece.
Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation
The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC), the specialist government- owned insurance agency, protects exporters against the possibility of non-payment for goods or services supplied abroad on credit terms.