ENG-2001 — Page 154

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

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operation among the industries concerned and the regional members to reinforce IPR protection.

The department also participated in the work of the Subcommittee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) of APEC. It was elected Chairman of the SCCP Trade Facilitation Working Group, which was tasked to improve members' communication and co-operation strategies with the business sector. The department was also elected co-partner for a SCCP Collective Action Plan to enhance Customs-Business Partnership within APEC.

The department continued to offer strong support for customs co-operation in the Asia Pacific Region. Since January 1999, the department has seconded an officer to the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office in Tokyo to assist in its operation. The officer is mainly responsible for the analysis of regional drug trends and training officers of other customs administrations.

Small and Medium Enterprises

In his 2000 Policy Address, the Chief Executive asked the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee (SMEC) to advise him on issues affecting the development of SMES in Hong Kong, and to explore new measures to support SMEs under the themes of helping them to start, build and expand their businesses. After careful discussion and wide consultation, the SMEC submitted a report to the Chief Executive in June. The key recommendations of the report are to set up four funding schemes to help SMEs secure loans for the purchase of business installations and equipment, expand their markets, provide training to employers and employees, and enhance their overall competitiveness. The SMEC also recommended about 30 other new support measures to assist SMEs in the six areas, namely, business environment, financing, corporate governance and culture, human resources, technology application, and market expansion.

The Chief Executive announced in his 2001 Policy Address the full adoption of the recommendations put forward by the SMEC, including the setting up of the four funding schemes with a total amount of $1.9 billion. The four funding schemes were being launched in late 2001/early 2002, while the other recommendations were to be implemented in phases starting from the end of 2001.

The Trade and Industry Department publishes and periodically reviews the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Support Plan, which provides a comprehensive directory of the public sector's support services for SMEs. In 2001, the department upgraded the Small and Medium Enterprises Information Centre into an information cum advisory centre. The new centre, known as the Support and Consultation Centre for SMES (SUCCESS), provides free advisory service to SMEs and business starters, and organises regular seminars, in addition to disseminating information of interest to SMEs, such as the tariff rates of other economies, the Government's licensing requirements, and SME services provided by different government departments and support organisations.

The Pilot Mentorship Programme for SMEs was in full operation in 2001. The programme enables small business starters to obtain free advice from experienced entrepreneurs, business executives and professionals. The Trade and Industry Department completed a review of the pilot scheme and considered it to be useful in