ENG-1985 — Page 97

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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The Customs and Excise Service is a disciplined and uniformed force, and its work is described in Chapter 13, Public Order.

The Trade Controls Group is manned by Industry Grade officers, and is responsible for inspection of factories and consignments in connection with certificates of origin, import and export licences, verification of trade declarations and manifests, and control of reserved commodities. It also investigates fraud relating to imports and exports, enforces the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and design copyright aspects of the Copyright Ordin- ance, and handles trade complaints.

During the year, the group completed 56 045 inspections of factories and consignments, 1 069 costing checks in connection with applications under the Generalised Schemes of Preferences (Form 'A'), and 40 464 enquiries and verifications relating to trade declarations and manifests. It conducted 6 725 assessments on trade declarations, which resulted in the collection of $3.8 million in ad valorem charges and administrative penalties.

The group also completed 2051 investigations, resulting in the imposition of fines totalling $11.3 million and prison sentences of up to 18 months. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, goods with a market value of $24.5 million were seized, of which $8 million worth were forfeited to the Crown.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body responsible for promoting and developing Hong Kong's overseas trade and publicising the opportunities and advantages of Hong Kong as a trading partner.

The chairman is appointed by the Governor and the 18 other members include representatives of major trade associations, leading businessmen and industrialists, and two senior government officials. The council is financed by the net proceeds of an ad valorem levy on trade declarations other than foodstuffs, and by miscellaneous income from sources such as advertising fees and sales of publications.

The council was established in 1966 and has built up a network of 24 offices throughout the world in addition to the head office in Hong Kong and local branch offices in Tsuen Wan and Kwun Tong. All offices process trade enquiries, provide up-to-date trade and economic information and offer advice to businessmen interested in developing trade with Hong Kong. The overseas representatives and consultants can put traders in touch with any of the 22 000 Hong Kong manufacturers and exporters registered in the Trade Enquiries Service computer.

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Council staff carried out an extensive trade promotion programme in 1985, organising more than 80 major international projects. In the United States, these covered the Winter Consumer Electronics Fair in Las Vegas and the Summer Consumer Electronics Fair in Chicago, the American Toy Fair in New York, the National Hardware Show in Chicago and the New York Premium Show.

In Europe, the council participated in the International Toy Fair in Nuremburg, the International Trade Fair for Watches, Clocks, Jewellery, Precious Stones and Silverware (and related manufacturing equipment) in Munich, the International Sports Equipment Fair in Munich, the Frankfurt International Spring and Autumn Fairs, the Birmingham International Spring Fair, and Domotechnica in Cologne, as well as mounting an exhibi- tion of watches and jewellery to coincide with the Swiss Industries Fair in Basle.

In China, the council mounted its largest overseas exhibition featuring more than 3 000 Hong Kong-made products from 90 different companies. Shanghai was the venue for this exhibition.