INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
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The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body responsible for promoting and developing Hong Kong's overseas trade and publicising the opportunities and advantages of Hong Kong as a trading partner.
The chairman is appointed by the Governor and the 18 other members include representatives of major trade associations, leading businessmen and industrialists, and two senior government officials. The council is financed by the net proceeds of an ad valorem levy on all exports and on imports other than foodstuffs, and by miscellaneous income from sources such as advertising fees and sales of publications.
The council was established in 1966 and has built up a network of 23 offices throughout the world, in addition to the head office in Hong Kong and local branch offices in Tsuen Wan and Kwun Tong. All offices process trade enquiries, provide up-to-date trade and economic information and offer advice to businessmen interested in developing trade with Hong Kong. The overseas representatives and consultants can put traders in touch with any of the 30 000 Hong Kong manufacturers and exporters registered in the Trade Enquiries Service computer. Furthermore, local businessmen can find markets for their goods through 100 000 overseas importers and buyers registered with the council.
The computerised Trade Enquiries Service of the council processed more than 170 000 overseas and local trade enquiries. The Research Department continued to publish special market surveys and detailed product reports, specifying opportunities in overseas markets for Hong Kong exports.
Council staff carried out an extensive trade promotion programme in 1987, organising more than 80 major international projects. In the United States, these included the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, the American Toy Fair in New York, the International Houseware Exposition in Chicago and the New York International Gift Fair.
In Europe, the council participated in the International Toy Fair in Nuremburg, the Frankfurt International Spring and Autumn Fairs, the Birmingham International Spring Fair and Domotechnica in Cologne, as well as the Swiss Industries Fair in Basle.
This year saw the opening of another HKTDC office in the People's Republic of China - Shanghai. The council also took part in 16 projects in China, including seminars, missions, exhibitions and business groups.
A variety of Hong Kong business groups under the auspices of the council visited the United States, Europe, China, the Middle East and Japan to enhance old, or establish new, trade contacts. The council also received more than 200 inward missions from more than 40 countries, most notably from the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, China, the Federal Republic of Germany, Canada and Sweden.
In Hong Kong, the council staged a Hong Kong Fashion Week and was involved in the sixth Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair, the Hong Kong Fur Fair and the Hong Kong Gifts and Houseware Fair.
In the very successful store promotions, the HKTDC joined forces with Hertie Waren und Kaufhaus GmbH in West Germany for a country wide promotion in September involving 62 stores. In Japan, the council staged promotions at the Seibu department store in Tokyo in March and once again in seven of the A.I.C. chain of department stores in October and November.
The council produces two product magazines, a fashion magazine and a newspaper for general circulation. They are Hong Kong Enterprise, a monthly general products magazine; the annual Hong Kong Toys, published each January to coincide with the Hong Kong