ENG-1997 — Page 158

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

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The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association was established in 1991. It is the major organisation representing the interests of Mainland enterprises operating in Hong Kong. Its objective is to enhance the industrial, commercial, financial, investment and technological ties between Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas countries. The association organises seminars, training courses and overseas trade missions for its 1 100 members.

The Hong Kong Exporters' Association was established in 1955. Since then, it has been an active promoter of Hong Kong's export trade. At mid-1997, it had 400 members.

Customs and Excise

Trade Controls

The Trade Controls Branch of the Customs and Excise Department is responsible for enforcing legislation relating to certification of origin, textiles import and export control, strategic commodities control and trade declarations.

Maintaining the integrity of these systems is vital to the well-being of Hong Kong's export business. The branch works closely with the Trade Department to combat false declarations of origin and values of goods, illegal transshipment of textiles and illicit trade in strategic commodities. This is done through factory and consignment inspections, investigations and prosecutions. In 1997, the branch carried out 94 767 factory and consignment inspections and 3 352 investigations. It successfully prosecuted 1 791 offenders, resulting in the imposition of fines amounting to $50.38 million.

To enhance enforcement, the branch deploys a task force to target suspect shipments and operates a monetary reward scheme to encourage members of the public to give information about textiles origin fraud.

The branch is also responsible for monitoring the stock of reserved commodities and for enforcing consumer protection legislation relating to weights and measures and the safety of toys, children's products and consumer goods. The stock of reserved commodities is monitored to ensure that there is always an adequate supply of essential foodstuffs such as rice in Hong Kong. The branch's functions in consumer protection, apart from carrying spot checks and investigations to ensure the safety of toys, children's products and consumer goods on sale in Hong Kong, are to protect consumers from fraudulent or unfair trading practices in connection with quantities, weights and measures, and to regulate the correct marking of gold and platinum. In 1997, it carried out 6 126 spot checks and 1 308 investigations.

Strategic Commodities

To ensure the SAR's continued access to high-technology products which are essential for maintaining the SAR's status as a regional centre of finance, trade, banking and telecommunications, the department works closely with the Trade Department and other agencies to monitor and control the flow of strategic goods. In 1997, the department investigated 220 cases and prosecuted 175 offenders, resulting in the imposition of fines amounting to $4.6 million. Strategic goods valued at $15 million — including such items as glass-lined reactors, encryption devices, telecommunication equipment and integrated circuits were seized and $18.22 million-worth was confiscated.