ENG-2000 — Page 150

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

114

Higher-level education and training are provided by the tertiary education institutions. The Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides technical education and industrial training places. In addition, it administers the New Technology Training Scheme which provides financial assistance to employers for training their staff in new technologies and those technologies that are not yet widely applied locally but the application of which will significantly benefit Hong Kong. The Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA) runs two training centres for the clothing and footwear industries. The ITC and the Trade and Industry Department are represented on the VTC and the CITA.

The implementation of the Admission of Talents Scheme was aimed at attracting talented persons with expertise not available locally and who are able to contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong, particularly in knowledge-intensive and high value-added activities.

Business and Services Promotion

The Business and Services Promotion Unit (BSPU) of the Commerce and Industry Bureau oversees the implementation of the Helping Business and Services Promotion Programmes. The Helping Business Programme, launched in 1996, aims to create a more business-friendly environment and to maintain Hong Kong's position as the best place in the world for business. A Business Advisory Group, chaired by the Financial Secretary, provides a forum for identifying problems encountered by the business sector in the Government's operations and for recommending solutions. The group comprises 14 leading members of the business community and six senior government officials. It meets quarterly to take forward helping business initiatives in such areas as cutting government red tape, deregulation, transfer of public services to the private sector and introduction of new and improved services. Work relating to the transfer of public services is under the charge of the Efficiency Unit of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office.

The BSPU works closely with government bureaux and departments to identify improvement opportunities in government operations and services and implement initiatives to help business. In 2000, 16 studies and projects under the Helping Business Programme were completed and 120 recommendations were identified. Departments implemented more than 40 specific measures, including streamlining procedures and reducing the processing time in the licensing of massage establishments and restaurants, reducing the number of government forms and making them more user-friendly, and addressing the problem concerning the overnight parking of non-franchised buses. The BSPU has continued its efforts to engender a helping business culture and mindset among civil servants. Apart from organising symposia and publishing guidebooks, the unit has also pursued many constructive and innovative proposals submitted by civil servants under a Helping Business Awards Scheme.

The Services Promotion Programme ensures that the right policies and programmes are in place to facilitate the growth and development of the services sector. The Services Promotion Strategy Group, chaired by the Financial Secretary and comprising prominent business figures, leading academics and senior officials, provides the necessary guidance and formulates an annual Service Promotion Action Agenda. For 2000–01, the group endorsed a 12-point Action Agenda which included identifying measures to expedite the development of Hong Kong into a logistics hub,

Page 150Page 151