5
Commerce and Industry
Paris, France, to promote the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and conducted programmes in the high-growth Mainland cities of Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hefei, Nanjing, Shanghai, Urumqi, Wuhan and Xiamen to promote Hong Kong as the ideal platform for Mainland companies to go global. InvestHK completed 101 investment projects from the Mainland during the year, representing 23 per cent of its total number of completed projects.
The StartmeupHK initiative under the department aims to attract global start-ups to set up business in Hong Kong, promote the territory as a leading hub for start-ups and entrepreneurship, and support the development of the local start-up ecosystem. It hosted the week-long StartmeupHK Festival in January to focus on different technological sectors, recording over 6,000 delegates. A financial technology (fintech) team helps overseas and Mainland fintech-related companies establish their presence in Hong Kong and organises international events, such as the annual flagship Hong Kong Fintech Week.
Industrial Policy
Leveraging Hong Kong's competitive edge, the government is proactive in developing a high value-added and diversified economy which embraces the development of new economic sectors. The government also encourages industry participation to capitalise on opportunities emerging from the B&R Initiative and the Greater Bay Area development, in order to generate new impetus for the territory's economic development.
Small and Medium Enterprises
SMEs are manufacturing businesses that employ fewer than 100 people and non- manufacturing businesses employing fewer than 50 people in Hong Kong. There are about 340,000 SMEs, representing over 98 per cent of all local enterprises and employing over 1.3 million people. The Trade and Industry Department's funding schemes help SMEs secure loans from lending institutions, expand export markets and enhance their competitiveness.
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
Hong Kong maintains a robust regime for protecting intellectual property rights that features comprehensive legislation, convenient registration systems, rigorous enforcement and public education programmes. This has earned Hong Kong a reputation for effective protection of intellectual property.
Registration
The Intellectual Property Department provides electronic registration and management services through the internet. Its e-registers allow free data search in Chinese or English, while the e-filing system enables intellectual property owners and agents to file their applications. securely and to make changes to the particulars of their registrations and applications directly. During the year, 69 per cent, 88 per cent and 80 per cent of applications for trade marks, patents and designs respectively were filed electronically.
91