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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

handling trade enquiries, organising industrial and trade promotion activities, seminars and training courses, and the running of two secondary schools. It encourages product development and quality improvement. Through the CMA Testing and Certification Laboratories, it provides technical backup services, including materials and product testing, pre-shipment inspection and technical consultancy services. Since 1989, the CMA has organised the machinery and equipment design award category of the Hong Kong Awards for Industry.

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is the oldest business association in Hong Kong. Founded in 1861, it has around 4000 corporate members. It organises and receives trade missions to and from overseas, provides informational programmes and handles trade enquiries. It issues certificates of origin and is the sole local issuing authority for International Association Temporarie Admission Carnets. The chamber is represented on many official advisory committees/bodies. It founded and formed the Hong Kong Article Numbering Association, the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries and the Hong Kong Franchise Association. It also sponsors the Hong Kong Committee of the Pacific Basin Economic Council.

Established in 1900, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce is an association of local Chinese firms, businessmen and professionals. It has over 6 000 members. Services provided include electronic trade documents and trade enquiry services, the issuance of certificates of origin and organisation of seminars, trade missions and other trade promotional activities. The chamber also maintains close links with trade organisations world wide. Since 1957, it has issued invitations on behalf of the Chinese Export Commodities Fair authorities to local firms. The chamber also runs regular familiarisation courses on Hong Kong's economy for senior Mainland officials.

The Hong Kong Management Association is a non-profit-making professional organisation incorporated in 1960 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of management in Hong Kong. With a membership of around 14 000, it offers over 1 800 training programmes annually, provides various management services, and organises a series of awards and competitions.

The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association was established in 1991. It has about 1 100 members which consist of enterprises that are wholly-owned by Mainland investors or in joint ventures with Hong Kong or overseas investors. The objective of the Association is to promote the co-operation and development of industries, commerce, finance, trade and technology between the Mainland, Hong Kong and other countries or territories.

The Hong Kong Exporters' Association was established in 1955. Since then, it has been an active promoter of Hong Kong's export and re-export trade. In mid-1998, it had around 420 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.