ENG-1993 — Page 116

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

system and issues certificates of origin where required. Five other organisations have been designated by the government to issue certificates of origin. They are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Indian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

Electronic Data Interchange

Hong Kong's use of electronic data interchange has expanded considerably during the past few years. Electronic data interchange, the computer-to-computer exchange of business information in a standard format, is one of the techniques being implemented worldwide in an attempt to curb the amount of paperwork involved in business and to improve efficiency.

The government is keen to encourage this trend to maintain Hong Kong's com- petitiveness in international markets. A particularly important area is the processing of statutory trade documents. Following a joint study with Tradelink Electronic Document Services Limited (a group of 11 leading trade-related organisations in Hong Kong), the government has taken a substantial shareholding in the company. Tradelink will fund and manage a Community Electronic Trading Service. The service will act as the electronic gateway between the trading community and the relevant government departments, - checking and validating electronic submissions before passing them on for approval.

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Both Tradelink and the government are now installing the computer systems required. The current plan is to commence joint testing by the middle of 1994, with a launch of the service in 1995. The scope of the initial service will cover the lodging of trade declarations and applications for export licences for textiles and clothing shipped under quota. The service will bring about a significant increase in the number of companies using electronic data interchange and will help generate more demand for other electronic trading services.

In the interests of compatibility, the government has agreed that the United Nations. Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport, a standard language developed by the United Nations for electronic trading, will be adopted for government transactions wherever applicable.

The Industry Department

One of the main tasks of the Industry Department is to carry out regular studies of Hong Kong's main manufacturing industries, with the aim of enabling the government to identify constraints on their efficiency and assess where support is needed. In 1993, a techno- economic and market research study on the electronics industry was conducted, while another on the metals and light engineering industries was completed. The department also conducts annual surveys on overseas investment in Hong Kong's manufacturing industries and on the establishment of regional representation by overseas companies in Hong Kong.

The department provides information on industrial support services available to manufacturers through its Industrial Extension Service (IES), and encourages manu- facturers to upgrade their operations by making use of these services. In 1993, a total of 288 visits were made by IES engineers, and 236 referrals were made to organisations which could help to solve the problems encountered by the manufacturers concerned. IES engineers dealt with the problems themselves in a number of other cases.

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