Commerce and Industry | 109
foodstuff for the local population at a reasonably stable price. The department enforces the certification scheme for rough diamonds. Its aim is to stop trade in 'conflict diamonds' from fuelling armed conflicts, activities of rebel movements and the illicit proliferation of armaments. Upon the signing of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement in June 2003, the department has also taken up the responsibility of enforcing the relevant control system to ensure that goods exported under the arrangement meet the requisite rules.
Intellectual Property Department
The Intellectual Property Department runs the registries of the trade marks, patents, designs and copyright licensing bodies, advises on policy and legislation related to intellectual property protection, provides civil intellectual property legal advice to the Government, and promotes public awareness of and respect for intellectual property rights.
Overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices
The overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices seek to promote economic and trade interests by enhancing understanding of the HKSAR among opinion- formers; closely monitoring developments that might affect the HKSAR's economic and trading interests, such as proposed legislation; and liaising closely with the business and commercial sectors, politicians, think tanks and the news media. They also organise events to promote Hong Kong's image. In addition, most of these offices seek to attract direct investment into Hong Kong by, for instance, promoting Hong Kong's business advantages under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.
The offices are located in Brussels, Geneva, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington.
The Brussels office and the London office are responsible for the bilateral economic and trade relations with the European countries. The Brussels office represents Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in dealings with the European Union (EU). It also monitors and promotes bilateral relations with the EU and 17 European countries. The London office promotes Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in the United Kingdom and 14 other countries in Europe. Hong Kong's representative to the International Maritime Organisation is also based in the London office.
The Geneva office represents Hong Kong, China, as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and represents Hong Kong as an observer on the Trade Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The offices in Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto are responsible for bilateral economic and trade relations in their host countries. The offices in Sydney and Tokyo are also responsible for promoting Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in New Zealand and the Republic of Korea respectively. The Singapore office is responsible for Hong Kong's commercial relations with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).