ENG-1998 — Page 161

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

The ECIC has always placed emphasis on service quality. The use of information technology has been widely applied with the aim of providing accurate and efficient insurance services. The ECIC's information technology system became totally Year 2000-compliant by the end of 1998. The ECIC also introduced two electronic commerce tools, namely, EC-DEC and APUM, in July and November 1998, respectively. EC-DEC was developed on the framework of electronic data interchange (EDI) which enables policyholders to declare shipments to the ECIC in electronic form. APUM (Automatic Policy Underwriting Model) makes use of a rule- based software to execute policy underwriting work, featuring consistency and objectivity in decision making.

To address the difficult trading environment in the year, the ECIC in October 1998 offered a premium discount and policy fee waiver in order to further support exporters. These two measures together brought direct savings to the accounts of exporters.

The ECIC's total insured business in 1998 was $21.05 billion, representing a 1.6 per cent decrease over that in the previous corresponding period. Gross premium income amounted to $112.9 million, down by 3.3 per cent. Cash claim payments totalled $70.8 million, up by 9.6 per cent over 1997. During the year, the ECIC devoted considerable resources in providing seminars and consultancy services to the exporting and banking communities.

Internationally, the ECIC continued to maintain close co-operation with its overseas counterparts through close liaison with them and active participation in the meetings and workshops held by the Berne Union, the international union of credit and investment insurers, and the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation.

Other Trade and Industrial Organisations

Various associations in Hong Kong represent the interests of industry and commerce. Among the larger and well established associations are the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. Other organisations include the Hong Kong Management Association, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, the Hong Kong Exporters' Association and various overseas chambers of commerce in Hong Kong such as the American, Australian, British, Canadian, Indian and Japanese chambers.

The Federation of Hong Kong Industries is a statutory body established in 1960 to promote and foster the interests of Hong Kong's industrial and business communities. It has more than 2 700 member companies. Its services include the issuance of certificates of origin, the operation and award of the Hong Kong Quality Mark and the provision of ISO 9000 quality management consultancy and intellectual property services. It has seven industry councils focusing on the chemical and pharmaceutical, electronics, mould and die, plastics, toys, watches and clocks, and transport services industries respectively. The federation organises the annual Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong and the consumer product design category of the Hong Kong Awards for Industry.

The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA), established in 1934, is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce and has a membership of nearly 4000. Services rendered include the issuance of certificates of origin,

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