ENG-1991 — Page 118

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

export licensing and origin certification. On matters of policy affecting trade, the Director-General of Trade takes advice from the Trade Advisory Board and the Textiles Advisory Board, both of which are appointed by the Governor and chaired by the Secretary for Trade and Industry.

The department consists of five divisions, three of which deal with bilateral commercial relations with Hong Kong's trading partners of different geographical areas. Their work includes the conduct of trade negotiations and the implementation of textiles agreements, as well as collection and dissemination of information on developments which may affect Hong Kong's external trade, especially those relating to trade policies and measures adopted in its major markets. One of these divisions has, in addition, responsibility for economic co-operation with the Asia-Pacific region and also the computerisation of the department's licensing systems and the introduction of electronic data interchange. The fourth division deals with the multilateral aspects of Hong Kong's external commercial relations, such as its participation in the GATT and in the negotiation of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement. The fifth division is responsible for the textiles export control system, common services, origin certification, the import and export licensing of commodities other than textiles, and a rice control scheme.

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Hong Kong Representation Overseas

The Hong Kong Government maintains offices in Geneva, Brussels, London, Washington, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo, mainly to safeguard and advance Hong Kong's economic and commercial interests overseas. (Address details are at Appendix 6.) These offices are administered by the Trade and Industry Branch of the Government Secretariat. They work closely, on a day-to-day basis, with departments and organisations concerned to represent Hong Kong's economic and commercial interests overseas and to promote goodwill for Hong Kong. The offices also monitor and collect information on international developments which may affect Hong Kong and provide information on Hong Kong affairs and developments to its trading partners and the overseas communities.

The Geneva Office represents Hong Kong as a contracting party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The office participates in the regular activities of the GATT as well as in the ongoing multilateral trade negotiations (generally known as the Uruguay Round) which were launched in September 1986. The Brussels Office represents and promotes Hong Kong's economic, commercial and public relations interests to the European Commission and the member states of the European Community (other than the United Kingdom) and to Switzerland. Hong Kong's commercial relations with the United Kingdom, Austria and the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden and Norway) are handled through the London Office. The London Office is also responsible for monitoring the economic and political developments in the United Kingdom of interest to Hong Kong, for promoting Hong Kong's interests, enhancing understanding of Hong Kong affairs and advancing Hong Kong's image in the United Kingdom. In this connection, the office maintains close liaison with the business and commercial sectors, politicians and the media in the United Kingdom. The Washington, New York and San Francisco offices closely monitor economic and trade developments, proposed legislation and other matters in the United States of America and Canada that might affect Hong Kong's economic interests in general and bilateral trade with these two countries in particular. The Tokyo Office