ENG-1995 — Page 135

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

and export licensing of commodities other than textiles, the rice control scheme, and common services.

The department is assisted in its work on commercial relations by 10 overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, including two new ones opened in 1995 in Sydney and Singapore. All overseas offices are under the administration of the Trade and Industry Branch.

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices

These offices seek to promote Hong Kong's economic and trade interests by enhancing understanding of the territory among opinion-formers; closely monitoring developments that might affect the territory's economic and trading interests, such as proposed legislation; and liaising closely with the business and commercial sectors, politicians and the media. They also have a role in promoting Hong Kong's image

overseas.

The Geneva Office represents Hong Kong as a contracting party to the WTO. It also represents Hong Kong as an observer on the Trade Committee as well as the Committee on Financial Markets of the OECD in Paris, and is responsible for commercial relations with Switzerland.

The Brussels Office represents Hong Kong's economic and trade interests to the European Commission and, through the Commission, to the member states of the EU. It is also responsible for Hong Kong's economic and trade relations with some other European countries and for encouraging inward investment from Europe.

The London Office is responsible for Hong Kong's commercial relations with the United Kingdom, and inward industrial promotion activities in Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It represents Hong Kong as an Associate Member of the International Maritime Organisation and co-ordinates all maritime-related matters which arise in the United Kingdom and Europe. It is also responsible for monitoring parliamentary activities in the United Kingdom that are of interest to Hong Kong.

The offices in Toronto, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney closely monitor economic and trade developments, proposed legislation and other matters in their host countries which may affect Hong Kong's trade and economic interests.

There are three offices in the USA: in Washington, New York and San Francisco. In recognition of the importance of the USA-Hong Kong relationship to the territory's economic and trade interests, the government decided to upgrade its representation there by appointing a Commissioner in October 1993 to supervise and co-ordinate the work of the three offices.

Participation in International Organisations

As an integral part of the Asia-Pacific economy and an important regional services centre, Hong Kong has a role to play and a contribution to make in regional economic co-operation.

The territory's economic links with the region continued to expand. In 1995, some 80.1 per cent of Hong Kong's total external trade was conducted with the other 17 member economies of APEC.

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