ENG-2009 — Page 164

112 | Commerce and Industry

professional service sectors to organise projects that enhance their external competitiveness and standards. These include capacity building programmes (such as international conferences and training courses), market research and promotional activities (such as roadshows and exhibitions). Of the 212 projects that received funding under the scheme up to the end of 2009, about 40 per cent related to enhancing the competitiveness of local professional service sector in the Mainland market.

Business Facilitation

The Government has pledged to cut red tape and simplify regulations to facilitate and sustain a vibrant business environment in Hong Kong. The business facilitation initiatives operate under the overall guidance of the Business Facilitation Advisory Committee (BFAC) set up in January 2006. The BFAC is made up of representatives from the business, academic, professional and political sectors and senior government officials from the relevant bureaux. Trade representatives provide their input through participation in the business facilitation task forces. Under the guidance of the BFAC and its task forces, regulatory reviews were conducted and measures were introduced to make government regulations and procedures more business-friendly and to reduce compliance costs to business. The BFAC and its task forces also provide an effective platform for the Government to consult business sectors on regulatory proposals and thrash out the implementation details of new regulations.

In February 2007, the Government launched a 'Be the Smart Regulator' Programme to further improve Hong Kong's business licensing processes and business environment. Its aim is to enhance the efficiency, transparency and customer-friendliness of licensing services provided by the bureaux and departments concerned and to reduce the compliance cost to business. Around 30 Government bureaux and departments providing licensing services to various business sectors participate in the programme. Business Liaison Groups for major business sectors have been set up to facilitate communication between bureaux and departments and the trades regarding regulatory and licensing issues.

A business consultation e-platform under the GovHK portal has been set up to facilitate business sectors' access to consultation information relating to proposed regulations, administrative measures and procedures that would impact business, and enable them to offer their feedback. Good progress has also been made on various fronts in improving the overall licensing environment for doing business in Hong Kong.

The Business Facilitation Division of the Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit under the Financial Secretary's Office co-ordinates the Government's efforts to implement various business facilitation measures. The division also provides secretariat and other executive support to the BFAC and its task forces.