Appointments are expected to be made on or about 1st October 1981. After a two month indoctrination, four will be posted overseas - one each to pan, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe while the other two will remain in Hong Kong to work on the relatively under-served field of local industrial promotion, as well as to strengthen existing back-up services for their colleagues in the field.
11
In determining the exact locations and working methods of field officers, the Trade Industry and Customs Department will work in collaboration with the TDC to take due account of Council's view that we should "have regard to the resources of the TDC and wherever possible work through them and avoid duplication". We have already addressed the TDC suggesting procedures that both organisations might work to in this particular field. On the matter of physical location, however, it should be noted that the TDC Chairman has said "the Council must reserve the right to consider with great care the real and practical implications of any proposal to post non-TDC staff in its overseas offices". And they have been unable to meet a request for space in their Tokyo Office for our soon to be appointed officer.
12
Substantial progress has also been made with the development of the 'One Stop Facility' to provide a comprehensive and rapid service to would-be investors. This covers information on industrial land and premises, labour, taxation, education, accommodation, technology and technical back-up services. The Facility is the core of a network of nineteen government departments and trade and industrial organisations, including the TDC, and provides a full and centralised service. The additional industrial development officers now being recruited will bring the Facility to maturity.
13
Industrial investment promotion policy is a government responsibility. Advice is sought from the Industry Advisory Board on which are represented leading trade and industrial associations, including the TDC. Co-ordination of effort is achieved through that Board's Industrial Promotion Committee which is chaired by the Commissioner of Industry and consists of senior executives of the TDC, Chinese Manufacturers' Association, Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong Productivity Centre and Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation.
14
It is difficult to see why it is now being suggested that there have been poor results as a consequence of the decision in mid-1980 to give TICD central responsibility for industrial promotion; or that the task of promoting industry would be better undertaken by the TDC. The facts contained in the Annex, insofar as they can be related in so short a period
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