ENG-1975 — Page 47

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Following advice from the Trade and Industry Advisory Board and the Rice Advisory Committee that a limited increase in the number of rice importers should have advantageous effect on rice sales and distribution, seven new importers were selected by public ballot in August. These seven new importers entered the trade on January 1, 1976, bringing the total number of registered importers to 45.

The administration division is responsible for the organisation and management of the department and for administrative liaison with the overseas officers. The work of the Preventive Service is described in detail in Chapter 10.

Trade Development Council

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, established by statute in 1966, is a quasi-government organisation responsible for promoting and developing Hong Kong's overseas trade and for making recommendations to the government which it considers would achieve an increase in Hong Kong's trade. The TDC also works closely with the industry division of the Commerce and Industry Department to promote and encourage foreign investment in and joint ventures with local industry.

The council's chairman is appointed by the Governor. Its members comprise representatives of principal commercial and industrial organisations, two senior government officials, and four nominated members. The council is financed by an annual grant from public funds, together with minor income from advertising fees and sale of publications.

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The TDC's headquarters are in Hong Kong and the council maintains overseas offices in 15 key cities-London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stockholm, Zurich, Amsterdam, Vienna, Milan, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Tokyo and Sydney. The new office in Zurich and the European Logistics Office in Vienna became fully operational during the year. The first Hong Kong trade develop- ment delegation to France was in Paris in September, when it was announced that the TDC would be giving consideration to opening an office there.

While the main emphasis of the council's work is on promoting the exports of products bearing the Made-in-Hong Kong label, attention continues to be given to improving imports-since Hong Kong relies heavily on overseas sources for the purchase of capital goods, raw materials and semi-processed manufactures.

Despite rising costs due to world inflation, the council carried out an extensive overseas promotional programme in 1975, mounting some 43 major international promotions. They included Hong Kong's participation in the Brno International Consumer Goods Fair; the 23rd Comis Euro-Tricot International Knitwear Fair, Milan; the New York Jewellery Show; Leipzig International Spring and Autumn Trade Fairs; Budapest International Consumer Goods Fair; Spoga Sports Goods Fair, Cologne; Poznan International Consumer Goods Fair, Poland; Milan Inter- national Toy Fair; Nuremberg International Toy Fair; New York International Toy Fair; Frankfurt International Spring Trade Fair; and Utrecht Spring Fair (combined with Brussels solo presentation).