ENG-2004 — Page 154

124 | Commerce and Industry

Invest Hong Kong launched a series of tailored, one-stop services for Mainland investors.

Customs and Excise Department

The Customs and Excise Department is responsible for enforcing various trade control systems, including the certification of origin system, the textiles import and export control system, the strategic commodities control system and the import and export declaration system. These systems aim to protect and facilitate legitimate trade. The department is also responsible for enforcing the criminal law for the protection of copyright and trade marks, as well as enforcing consumer protection legislation relating to the safety of various commodities, the integrity of weights and measures, and the marking of precious metals. To ensure that Hong Kong has an adequate supply of rice - an essential foodstuff for the local population reasonably stable price, the department monitors the local stock of rice. Upon the signing of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement in June 2003, the department has also taken up the responsibility of enforcing the relevant control system to ensure that goods exported under the Arrangement meet the requisite rules.

Intellectual Property Department

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The Intellectual Property Department runs the Trade Marks, Patents, Designs and Copyright Licensing Bodies Registries, advises on policy and legislation related to intellectual property protection, provides civil intellectual property legal advice to the Government, and promotes public awareness of and respect for intellectual property rights.

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices seek to promote economic and trade interests by enhancing understanding of the HKSAR among opinion-formers; closely monitoring developments that might affect the HKSAR's economic and trading interests, such as proposed legislation; and liaising closely with the business and commercial sectors, politicians, think tanks and the news media. They also organise events to promote Hong Kong's image. In addition, most of these offices seek to attract direct investment into Hong Kong. One of the means is to actively promote Hong Kong's enhanced business advantages and environment under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

The offices are located in Brussels, Geneva, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington and Guangdong.

The Brussels Office represents Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in dealings with the European Union (EU). It also monitors and promotes bilateral relations with the EU and its old member states except the United Kingdom.

The Geneva Office represents Hong Kong, China, as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and represents Hong Kong as an observer on the Trade Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).