WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1982
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH FOR SECRETARIAT
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ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO SET UP A TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND TO DEFEDERALISE THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ON AUGUST 1.
A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND TO TRANSFER STATUTORY POWERS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF TICD TO THE HEADS OF THE DEFEDERALISED DEPARTMENTS AND THE NEW BRANCH.
APPOINTMENTS TO THESE POSTS WERE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE WORK OF THE THREE SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENTS, OF TRADE, INDUSTRY, AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, WILL LARGELY MATCH THAT OF THE SUB-DEPARTMENTS PREVIOUSLY IN THE TICD.
THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND THE TRADE DEPARTMENT, AND FOR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT'S DUTIES RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE OBLIGATIONS.
HOWEVER, REVENUE PROTECTION AND ANTI-NARCOTICS FUNCTIONS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO COME UNDER THE FINANCE BRANCH AND THE SECURITY BRANCH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
CONSUMER PROTECTION SUBJECTS WILL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH AND THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE SUBJECT CONTENT WAS MORE TRADE OR CONSUMER-ORIENTED,
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE THREE HONG KONG OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA, HITHERTO OVERSEAS OFFICES OF THE TICD, WILL BE ASSUMED BY THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
THE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICES IN STUTTGART, TOKYO AND SAN FRANCISCO WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE INTENTION WAS TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES; BUT BEFORE SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE, IT WOULD OPERATE FROM EXISTING PREMISES IN OCEAN CENTRE IN TSIM SHA TSUI.
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