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Commerce and Industry
Under the department's Hong Kong Authorised Economic Operator Programme, formally launched in April 2012, local companies that satisfy certain pre-determined security standards will be accredited by the department as Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) and enjoy priority clearance and reduced examination. The department is working out arrangements for mutual recognition of similar programmes of other customs administrations so that Hong Kong AEOs can enjoy corresponding customs facilitation.
The department co-operates with other customs administrations and law enforcement agencies and regular bilateral meetings are held with the Mainland and other customs authorities to exchange intelligence and experience on enforcement. The department has also concluded bilateral co-operation arrangements with a number of customs administrations.
Inward Investment Promotion
In 2012, despite the challenges of the global economic downturn, Invest Hong Kong assisted a record 316 overseas, Mainland and Taiwan companies in setting up or expanding operations in Hong Kong involving direct investment of some $7.7 billion and the creation of about 3,000 new jobs within the first year of their operation/expansion3.
Invest Hong Kong organised or sponsored a range of activities in 2012, including the Asian Financial Forum, Society of Publishers in Asia Awards Dinner, ArtHK, 'Think Global, Think Hong Kong' promotion in Tokyo and Osaka, World SME Expo, Super Return Asia, and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia Convention. In addition, Invest Hong Kong organised joint investment promotions with Mainland provinces and cities in the Pearl River Delta Region (including Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Macao) and in overseas cities such as Moscow, Bristol and Seoul to promote the advantages offered by the economic integration of Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Campaigns were held in leading financial centres (including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Zurich, Geneva and Lugano) to promote Hong Kong as China's global financial centre. Invest Hong Kong also tapped into the outward investment potential of Mainland companies through a series of promotional programmes, including investment promotion seminars and sector- focused workshops in high-growth Mainland cities like Wuhan, Tangshan, Xian, Taiyuan, Nanchang, Shantou and Xiamen. The department completed 62 projects related to Mainland investments in Hong Kong in 2012, representing nearly 20 per cent of the total number of completed projects from all markets.
Small and Medium Enterprises
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) refers to those manufacturing businesses in Hong Kong employing fewer than 100 people, or non-manufacturing businesses with fewer than 50. There are about 308,000 SMEs in Hong Kong, representing over 98 per cent of all local enterprises and employing more than 1.2 million people. To support SMEs, the Government has set up three
3
These represent investment amount and job opportunities reported by the companies assisted by Invest Hong Kong. Not all of these companies disclosed the data.
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