ENG-1967 — Page 95

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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may affect Hong Kong, and study the activities of international organizations concerned with trade. They are also responsible for preparing for negotiations with trading partners concerning textiles or other products, and for enforcing the provisions of any agreement. Between them, they deal with the calculation and allocation of quotas for markets restricted under the operation of the Long-Term Arrangement regarding international trade in cotton textiles. The divisions also provide secretariats for the Cotton Advisory Board and the Trade and Industry Advisory Board. They are in close and constant touch with the Trade Development Council and the Export Credit Insurance Corporation.

During the year two new overseas offices were opened in Washington and Geneva, bringing the total for which the Com- merce and Industry Department is responsible to four. The other offices are in London and Brussels.

The Industry Division provides a liaison between industry and other government departments, answers industrial enquiries from overseas and deals with specific industrial problems. It also operates certificate of origin and Commonwealth preference procedures. An industry inspection service has been established to enforce these procedures through the regular inspection of factories and goods and the prosecution of those suspected of contravening the regulations.

The Controls Division deals with trade licensing (other than for textiles) with dutiable commodities and with the control of certain reserved commodities, including rice. It administers the Preventive Service, a uniformed and disciplined organization whose role in revenue protection and the control of narcotics traffic is described in Chapter 10. The Chief Preventive Officer commands the service which has an establishment of seven gazetted officers, 288 inspectors and 548 rank and file.

The Statistical Branch publishes monthly commodity-by-country trade statistics, compiled from declarations filed with the depart- ment by importers and exporters. It also maintains a consumer price index and provides general statistical services for other govern- ment departments. The new Census and Statistics Department has taken over these duties for the future.