ENG-1980 — Page 46

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

-

25

The department has three overseas offices in Brussels, Geneva and Washington -- and is also represented in the Hong Kong Government Office in London. The overseas offices are almost entirely concerned with commercial relations work. They represent Hong Kong's interests on a day-to-day basis and provide information on international developments which may affect Hong Kong.

The Commissioner of Trade is assisted by two deputy commissioners and five assistant commissioners. One deputy commissioner heads the EEC and Multilateral Group while the other heads the Rest of the World and Textile Systems Group.

The EEC and Multilateral Group comprises two divisions, each headed by an assistant commissioner. One division is responsible for Hong Kong's external commercial relations and internal quota administration with the EEC and Greece, Portugal, Spain and Turkey including the preparation for, and the conduct of, trade negotiations, and the collection and dissemination of information on trade policy measures taken by the countries concerned which may affect Hong Kong. The second division is responsible for Hong Kong's multi- lateral aspects of its external commercial relations and for gathering information and formulating policy recommendations on issues affecting Hong Kong and general commer- cial interests.

The Rest of the World and Textile Systems Group comprises three divisions, each headed by an assistant commissioner. One division is responsible for Hong Kong's external com- mercial relations and quota administration in respect of North America (USA and Canada); and a second division is responsible for the other regions (that is, other than the EEC and North America). The third division is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Hong Kong Textile Export Quota System, the planning and implementation of the programme to computerise the textile controls system.

The Commissioner of Industry is assisted by a deputy commissioner, and two assistant commissioners who head the Industrial Support and Liaison Division and the Industrial Development Division.

The Industrial Support and Liaison Division assists industry in its relations with other government departments, and deals with specific issues affecting industry such as in- frastructure and the health and safety standards set in Hong Kong's overseas markets. It also monitors the oil supply in Hong Kong.

The division is being expanded and strengthened to enable it to discharge effectively the additional responsibilities arising from implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Diversification in areas of industrial development. One of these recommendations is the establishment of an Industrial Development Board, under the chairmanship of the Financial Secretary, to co-ordinate the provision of existing and additional support facilities and technical back-up services for manufacturing industries. The board is serviced by a secretariat in the Department of Industry.

The Industrial Development Division promotes overseas investment in local industry by advising potential investors on Hong Kong's economy and infrastructure, and assisting them in the evaluation and establishment of manufacturing projects in Hong Kong. The division encourages industrial co-operation between Hong Kong and overseas manufac- turers, and liaises with leading trade and industrial organisations in Hong Kong in the promotion of industrial investment from overseas. It also advises the government on industrial land matters.

in its report to the Governor, the Advisory Committee on Diversification has recom- mended that the promotion of industrial investment should be better organised and pursued more actively than in the past. Specifically, the Trade Industry and Customs Department