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issue of environmental-related licences and permits; relaxing restrictions to give light refreshment restaurants greater flexibility in selling food items; and launching a web- based one-stop advisory centre to provide the concerned trades with all the necessary information relating to cargo clearance matters. The BSPU is making continuous efforts to engender a helping business culture and mindset among civil servants by pursuing the Helping Business Awards Schemes, conducting talks, participating in exhibitions and promoting the Helping Business Programme.
On services promotion, the Government's role is to ensure that the right policies and programmes are in place to facilitate the growth and development of the services sector. In 2002, the BSPU coordinated the efforts of relevant bureaux and departments in the implementation of 12 projects such as identifying appropriate measures to support the development of the digital entertainment industry and fostering the role of Hong Kong as a leading maritime centre. All of these initiatives were progressing well.
As part of the Services Promotion Programme, the BSPU launched a series of publicity activities to enhance local understanding of the importance of quality service. These included the production of a television Announcement in the Public Interest and the launching of a publicity campaign for youngsters. The objective of the campaign is to build up young people's confidence in Hong Kong's economic future and promote their understanding of a knowledge-based services economy.
The BSPU was also active in promoting professional services. A major initiative during the year was setting up the $100 million Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme to provide funding support for projects which aim to enhance the external competitiveness and standard of Hong Kong's professional services. The unit has also developed a website to help promote Hong Kong professional services to Mainland enterprises. The unit will continue to coordinate the efforts of government bureaux and departments in helping the professional services sector to grasp the business opportunities arising from Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Trade Documentation
As a free port, the HKSAR maintains minimal import and export documentation requirements. Most products do not need licences to enter or leave Hong Kong. Licences or notifications are only required if the HKSAR needs to fulfil its international obligations, to protect public health, safety, environment, or intellectual property rights, or to ensure Hong Kong's unrestricted access to high technologies and hi-tech products. Products that require import or export licences include textiles and clothing, strategic commodities, rice, chilled or frozen meat and poultry, pharmaceutical products and medicines, pesticides, radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus, left-hand-drive vehicles, ozone-depleting substances, and optical disc mastering and replication equipment.
The HKSAR maintains a certification of origin system to facilitate Hong Kong exports to overseas markets. The Trade and Industry Department administers this system and issues certificates of origin. In addition, the Government has designated five organisations to issue certificates of origin the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Indian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.