ENG-1988 — Page 108

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

During the year, the group completed 73 251 inspections of factories and consignments, 1 493 costing checks in connection with certificate applications under the Generalised Schemes of Preferences (Form A) and 103 981 enquiries and verifications relating to trade declarations and manifests. It conducted 9 140 assessments on trade declarations, which resulted in the collection of $5.1 million in ad valorem charges and administrative penalties. As a whole, the Trade Controls Group completed 2 321 investigations. Successful prosecutions in this area resulted in the imposition of fines totalling $37.3 million as well as prison sentences. The work of the Trading Standards Investigation Bureau is further explained in Chapter 15.

Government Supplies Department

The Government Supplies Department which was established in 1938, is the government's central purchasing and supply agency. It buys equipment, goods and services ranging from simple office sundries to aircraft and complex computer systems for 50 departments and units of the Hong Kong Government. In addition to giving advice on purchasing and supply matters, the department also seconds staff to other departments to ensure a pro- fessional approach to acquisition and maintenance of supplies throughout the government.

To ensure continuity of supply, the department maintains goods which are generally required by other departments in its main stores in Hong Kong and Kowloon and the five sub-stores specially established to serve the engineering workshops.

In conformity with Hong Kong's commitments as a signatory to the Agreement on Government Procurement of the GATT, the departments' purchases of significance are widely advertised and open to competitive bidding. In the taxpayers' interest, all purchases are made entirely on the basis of best value for money regardless of the source of supply. Due to its open procurement policy, goods and services are procured from over 35 coun- tries and some 4 000 registered suppliers.

In 1988, the year of its 50th anniversary, the department placed orders to a total value of $2,383 million.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body responsible for promot- ing 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 19 other members include repre- sentatives of major trade associations, leading businessmen and industrialists, and two senior government officials.

The council was established in 1966 and has built up a network of 27 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 32 000 Hong Kong manufacturers and exporters registered in the Trade Enquiries Service computer. Furthermore, local businessmen can find markets for their goods through 100 000 overseas importers and buyers registered with the council.

The computerised Trade Enquiries Service of the council processed more than 200 000 overseas and local trade enquiries. The Research Department continued to publish special market surveys and detailed product reports, specifying opportunities in overseas markets for Hong Kong exports.