ENG-2008 — Page 151

Commerce and Industry | 107

Hong Kong is taking steps to implement the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (FOS), which is a set of principles and standards adopted by the WCO for enhancing supply chain security and facilitating international trade. The Customs and Excise Department is studying the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Schemes currently implemented by other Customs administrations.

The department has concluded a number of bilateral Customs co-operative arrangements with other customs administrations. It maintains good working relationship and close liaison with the customs attachés and representatives of other law enforcement agencies stationed in Hong Kong. Regular bilateral meetings are held with the Mainland and other customs administrations to build up a strong network for exchanging intelligence.

Inward Investment Promotion

During 2008, Invest Hong Kong assisted a record 257 foreign, Mainland and Taiwan companies to set up or expand operations in Hong Kong3. The total amount of investment involved exceeded HK$4.6 billion. A total of 2 450 new jobs were created in 2008 while these companies expect to create an additional 5 431 jobs in the next two years4.

Investment promotion activities included sponsoring and participating in major international conferences or business events to raise Hong Kong's profile among key target markets and to identify new prospective investors in Hong Kong. In 2008, these included the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2008, the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia's (CASBAA) annual convention, the 47th Orient and South East Asia Lions (OSEAL) Forum, Hedge Funds World Asia and the ASEAN Ports and Shipping. Invest Hong Kong also organised a series of 17 community programmes for foreign communities in Hong Kong to provide useful aftercare and networking opportunities to existing investors.

In 2008, Invest Hong Kong organised eight joint investment promotion activities with major Mainland provinces and cities, including Huizhou, Shenzhen, Fujian, Zhaoqing, Foshan, Guangdong and Zhuhai. These promotions targeted prospective investors in Singapore, Paris, Birmingham, Chicago, Melbourne, Sydney, Madrid and Tel Aviv. All of these seminars were well received.

Invest Hong Kong continued to promote to Mainland enterprises Hong Kong's unique advantages as a springboard for overseas expansion. During the year, the department conducted 25 seminars in 14 Mainland cities. In 2008, Invest Hong Kong successfully delivered the second year of its three-year nationwide marketing campaign, namely 'On Your Marks, Get-set, Go!'. The campaign focuses on seven provinces across the Mainland and aims to provide privately-owned enterprises with

3 These represent companies assisted by Invest Hong Kong, and do not include companies set up

in Hong Kong without such assistance.

4

These represent investment amount and job opportunities reported by the companies assisted by Invest Hong Kong. Not all of these companies disclosed the data.