COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
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Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce are among the oldest and most influential trade and industrial associations in Hong Kong. Other major organisations include the Hong Kong Management Association, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, the Hong Kong Exporters' Association, and various overseas chambers of commerce representing the business interests of firms from, for example, the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Japan and the United Kingdom.
The Federation of Hong Kong Industries is a statutory body established in 1960 to promote and foster the interests of Hong Kong's industrial and business communities. It has more than 3 000 member companies and its services include: issuance of certificates of origin, provision of Electronic Trading Access Service (ETAS), the promotion and endorsement of products with the Hong Kong Quality Mark, and the provision of ISO 9000 quality management consultancy and intellectual property services. The federation categorises its members into 25 groups (including the newly formed Software and Information Technology Group) covering major industries and services. Seven of these have formed industry-specific councils under the auspices of the federation. The federation also organises the annual Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong and the consumer product design category of the Hong Kong Awards for Industry.
The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA), established in 1934, is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce and has a membership of nearly 4000. Services rendered include the issuance of certificates of origin, handling of trade enquiries, and the organising of industrial and trade promotion activities, seminars and training courses. It encourages product development and quality improvement and, through its Testing and Certification Laboratories, provides manufacturers with technical back-up services, including materials, consumer products and environmental testing, pre-shipment inspection and technical consultancy services. Since 1989, the CMA has been the organiser of the machinery and equipment design award category of the Hong Kong Awards for Industry.
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is the oldest business association in Hong Kong. Founded in 1861, it has around 4 000 corporate members and organises and receives trade missions to and from overseas as well as handling trade enquiries. It issues certificates of origin and is the sole local issuing authority for International Association Temporarie Admission Carnets. The chamber is represented on many official advisory committees/bodies, and it founded both the Hong Kong Article Numbering Association and the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries. The chamber also sponsors the Hong Kong Committee of the Pacific Basin Economic Council.
Established in 1900, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce is an association of local Chinese firms, businessmen and professionals. It has over 6 000 members. Services provided include electronic trade documentation and trade enquiry and the organisation of seminars, trade missions and other trade promotional activities. The chamber maintains close links with trade organisations in the Mainland and other economies world-wide. It also runs regular familiarisation courses on Hong Kong's economy for senior Mainland officials.
The Hong Kong Management Association is a non-profit-making professional organisation incorporated in 1960 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of management in Hong Kong. With a membership of around 13 200, the association