INDUSTRY AND TRADE
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Other Trade and Industrial Organisations
Hong Kong has a number of major trade and industrial organisations which provide services to their members and represent their views to the government, either of their own accord or in response to government consultation.
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is the oldest internationally-recognised trade association in Hong Kong. Established in 1861, it now has a membership of some 2 700 companies representing all branches of commerce and industry, including exporters and importers, a wide section of the manufacturing industry, transport, utilities, banking, insurance and commercial and professional services. The chamber was formed to promote trade and industry, to act as a focus of local business opinion and to make that opinion known when necessary. It organises trade and industrial investment promotion groups, goodwill missions and handles trade enquiries. It receives official and trade delegations as well as individual businessmen from overseas, and extends to them appropriate assistance. It is authorised by the government to issue certificates of origin. Although an independent organisation, the chamber is represented on a variety of official advisory committees and other local organisations. It is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce and sponsors the Hong Kong Committee of the Pacific Basin Economic Council. The Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries is an autonomous organisation within the chamber.
The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA), established in 1934, is a non-profit-making chamber of commerce and industry. It has a membership of over 3 600 industrial and trade establishments, and is authorised by the government to issue certificates of origin. It also handles trade enquiries, organises missions, fairs and ex- hibitions, and is active in encouraging product development and quality improvement. The CMA Testing and Certification Laboratories provide technical back-up services, including product testing, certification, inspection and technical consultancy services. The CMA also operates two prevocational schools to provide technical education and training for more than 2 200 students. Since 1964, it has awarded scholarships annually to outstanding students studying in universities, polytechnics and technical institutes through the CMA and Donors' Scholarships Scheme. Since 1989, it has organised the award com- petition in the machinery and equipment design category of the Governor's Award for Industry, to emphasise the importance of machinery and equipment design in Hong Kong's industrial development.
The Federation of Hong Kong Industries is a statutory body, established by the government in 1960 to promote and protect the interests of Hong Kong's manufacturing industry. It offers a wide range of services, covering certificates of origin, the Hong Kong Quality Mark Scheme, a custom-built multi-risks insurance policy, consultancy work on quality assurance, trade enquiries and economic research.
Since 1989, the federation has run the award competition in the consumer product design category in the Governor's Award for Industry. The third Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong were presented in October 1990 in honour of young industrialists for their professional endeavors and commitment to the manufacturing industry.
With a membership spanning all industrial sectors, the federation services the Hong Kong Toys Council, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries Council, Transport Services Council, Hong Kong Electronics Industry Council, Hong Kong Plastics Industry Council and the Mould and Die Council.