ENG-2006 — Page 135

Chart 5

Commerce and Industry 107

Number of Hong Kong Enterprise Groups (HKEGs) with Inward Direct Investment by Employment Size in mid-2005

8 000

No. of HKEGS

7.000

6 000

6 008

5.000

4 000

3.000

2 000

1 619-

1.000

617

628

117

57

29

0

Less than 20

20 - 49

50 - 99

100 - 499

500 - 999

1 000 - 2999

3 000 or more

Employment Size

According to a survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department, as at June 1, 2006, 3 845 companies outside Hong Kong had set up either their regional headquarters or regional offices in Hong Kong compared to 3 798 in 2005.

The Institutional Framework

Commerce and Industry Branch

The Commerce and Industry Branch of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau (CITB) is responsible for the formulation and coordination of policies and strategies in relation to Hong Kong's external commercial relations, inward investment promotion and intellectual property protection. It also oversees the development of policies and programmes for the industrial and trade sectors, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as the promotion of services industries. The branch is assisted by a number of departments, namely the Trade and Industry Department, Invest Hong Kong, the Customs and Excise Department and the Intellectual Property Department. It is also supported by a network of Economic and Trade Offices outside Hong Kong.

Trade and Industry Department

The Trade and Industry Department is responsible for handling the commercial relations of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with its trading partners. The department implements trade policies and agreements, including issuing certificates of origin, export and import licences and certificates of Hong Kong service suppliers. It also provides general support services for the industrial sector and SMEs.

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