Constitution and Administration 19
strengthening Hong Kong's economic and trade ties with the Mainland; promoting Hong Kong and encouraging and attracting investments to Hong Kong. The Beijing Office and Guangdong ETO have their own immigration divisions which provide. practical assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress or are seeking assistance in the Mainland. They also handle immigration matters. A Shenzhen Liaison Unit under the Guangdong ETO came into operation in August 2010 to enhance co-operation with Shenzhen. The unit also provides assistance to Hong Kong enterprises in Shenzhen. For details of the promotional activities organised by the Beijing Office and the three ETOS in the Mainland, please refer to Chapter 17 (Communications, the Media and Information Technology: section on Promoting Hong Kong Overseas and in the Mainland).
Exchanges with Taiwan
Over the years, Hong Kong has established close ties with Taiwan on the economic front and other areas. Taiwan is Hong Kong's fourth largest trading partner. In 2010, bilateral trade amounted to $293 billion (around US$37.7 billion). An average of over two million people from Taiwan visit Hong Kong annually.
To seize the opportunities brought by the enhanced cross-strait relations, the HKSAR Government continues to promote exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan in a proactive manner. Hong Kong has implemented various measures to build stronger ties with Taiwan.
To strengthen Hong Kong's trade relations with Taiwan, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council established an office in Taipei in October 2008. Hong Kong has also implemented various entry facilitation measures to encourage the flow of people between Hong Kong and Taiwan. Further, Hong Kong organised a 'Hong Kong-Taiwan Inter-City Forum' in Hong Kong with the Taichung City in April 2009 to foster exchanges with Taiwan at the municipal level.
In March 2010, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development visited Taichung to promote tourism.
In April 2010, Hong Kong set up the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) while Taiwan established a counterpart, the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC). The establishment of the ECCPC and THEC is a milestone in the relations between the two places which can use this platform to discuss public policies. Hong Kong has also set up the Hong Kong-Taiwan Business Co-operation Committee and the Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Committee, which comprise members from the local business and cultural sectors. Hong Kong will work with its Taiwan counterparts under the THEC to foster economic ties and social exchanges between the two places.
In August 2010, the Financial Secretary led a delegation comprising ECCPC members to Taiwan. Besides attending the first joint meeting of the ECCPC and