ENG-2009 — Page 148

100 Commerce and Industry

and Trade Offices (ETOs) and the Beijing Office, as well as its overseas consultants in more than ten different strategic locations not covered by the IPUs.

Customs and Excise Department

The Customs and Excise Department enforces various trade controls systems. covering those concerning the issue of certificates of origin (including those under CEPA), the import and export of textiles, strategic commodities, reserved commodities, rough diamonds and other prohibited goods, as well as compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The department is also tasked with collecting import and export declarations, declaration charges and clothing levies, and with enforcing the relevant statutory control on these systems.

The department also enforces the criminal laws that protect copyright and trade marks, and consumer protection legislation relating to the safety of various commodities, the provision of accurate sales information on products, and the integrity of weights and measures.

Intellectual Property Department

The Intellectual Property Department runs the registries of the trade marks, patents, designs and copyright licensing bodies, 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.

Overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices

There are 11 overseas Hong Kong ETOS located in Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington DC.

With the exception of the Geneva office which represents Hong Kong, China, as a member of the World Trade Organisation, and as an observer to the Trade Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development headquartered in Paris, the other 10 ETOS seek to promote Hong Kong's economic and trade interests by enhancing understanding of Hong Kong among opinion-formers; closely monitoring developments that might affect Hong Kong's economic and trade interests; 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.

The Brussels office has a leading role in representing Hong Kong on matters relating to its economic and trade interests in Europe, in particular in dealings with the European Union, European Commission and European Parliament. It also promotes bilateral relations in 15 European countries. The London office represents Hong Kong's interest in nine European countries. Hong Kong's representative to the International Maritime Organisation is based in the London office. The Berlin office which commenced operation in March 2009 further strengthens Hong Kong's representation in Europe and is responsible for fostering closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and eight countries in central and eastern Europe.