XN000022-1996-01-10 — Page 45

(c)

- 32 -

1992-93

$543.IM

$595.6M

$698.1M

1993-94

1994-95

The Government does not consider it appropriate to merge the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETOS) with the Trade Development Council offices because their main roles and functions are different.

The ETOS are the official economic and trade missions of the Hong Kong Government in the foreign countries where they are located. Their main functions are to represent and promote Hong Kong's economic and trade interests with host governments and international organisations; undertake inward investment promotion; and organise Government's publicity efforts to promote Hong Kong as a premier location to do business in the Asian Pacific Region. They also lobby and negotiate with the host governments on specific trade issues and assist Hong Kong based staff in negotiating trade agreements. The government-to-government aspects of the ETO work cannot be undertaken by a non-government organisation.

The main responsibilities of the Trade Development Council's overseas offices are to develop and promote a receptive market for Hong Kong goods by helping merchandise traders in the host countries to do business with Hong Kong traders on the one hand, and help Hong Kong companies to penetrate markets in the host countries on the other. Such functions are more appropriately carried out by a non- government body.

Although the roles and main functions of the Government's ETOS and TDC's overseas offices are different, the two sets of overseas offices liaise regularly and closely with each other because both share the same objective of working for the interests of Hong Kong. The promotional aspect of their work is also complementary. Therefore, staff in the two sets of overseas offices co-operate and work together on major promotional campaigns overseas, such as the Hong Kong Promotion in Japan in September 1995 and the Promotion in the United States in June this year, which aim to raise Hong Kong's profile as a dynamic centre of business and tourism.

Where possible, the Government's ETOs and TDC's overseas offices are co- located in order to achieve a more optimal utilisation of resources, to project a stronger Hong Kong identity, and to provide a more convenient, efficient, one-stop service to our respective clients.

End