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116 Commerce and Industry

intellectual property rights, or ensure Hong Kong's continued access to high technologies and hi-tech products.

The HKSAR also maintains a certification of origin system to facilitate its exports to overseas markets.

Government Electronic Trading Services

To maintain Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international trading centre, the Government launched the Government Electronic Trading Services in 1997 to provide a platform for the trading community to submit certain trade related documents electronically, thereby discharging their statutory obligations in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner. In 2008, the transaction volume was about 22.7

million.

The Government has appointed three service providers to provide the services from 2010. The appointment of the third service provider, in addition to the existing two, will give users a wider choice and bring added room for healthy competition in the market. The Government has also introduced improvements through the new contracts, including technical enhancements such as harmonisation of data format across selected trade documents.

Hong Kong Awards for Industries

The Hong Kong Awards for Industries promotes and honours the pursuit of excellence by enterprises in both the industrial and services sectors. It comprises seven award categories, namely consumer product design, machinery and machine tools design, customer service, environmental performance, innovation and creativity, productivity and quality, and technological achievement.

Trade and Industrial Support Organisations

Hong Kong Trade Development Council

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), a statutory body established in 1966, is responsible for promoting and expanding Hong Kong's external trade in goods and services. With its global network of more than 40 offices, including 11 in the Mainland, the TDC helps its customers, mainly local SMEs, develop business opportunities, trade contacts, market knowledge and competitive skills. One of its primary goals is to project and uphold Hong Kong as an international trading hub.

The TDC has helped position Hong Kong as the exhibition and convention centre of Asia. It organised more than 30 exhibitions during the year, eight of which were the biggest of their kind in Asia. These events attracted nearly 28 000 exhibitors and 582 000 buyers.

In the Mainland, TDC's focus was on promoting Hong Kong as a professional, creative and financial services platform, a logistics hub, a partner for Mainland businesses seeking global opportunities and a prime supplier of fashionable and lifestyle products. In mature markets, the TDC stepped up efforts to differentiate Hong Kong merchandise by highlighting reliable quality, stylish designs and