ENG-2010 — Page 146

104 | Commerce and Industry

industries. Some of the liberalisation and facilitation measures are for pilot implementation in Guangdong Province.

The Government will continue to help the business community tap the opportunities brought about by CEPA. Close liaison is maintained with the Mainland authorities at different levels through various government bureaux and departments, the Beijing Office of the HKSAR Government, and Hong Kong ETOs in the Mainland to help ensure smooth implementation of measures under CEPA. High-level communication is also maintained through forums such as the CEPA Joint Steering Committee and the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. Quasi- government bodies including the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) also assist in the promotion of CEPA.

In addition, with the Mainland policy of expansion of domestic demand, the Government has been working with Mainland authorities in recent years to assist Hong Kong enterprises in tapping the Mainland market. These include conveying the trade's views on domestic sales to the Mainland authorities, and organising more business matching event and trade fairs in the Mainland provinces and cities, mainly through the TDC, with a view to enhancing the awareness over Hong Kong brand products.

Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements

To assure overseas investors that their investments in Hong Kong are adequately protected, and to enable Hong Kong investors to enjoy similar protection overseas, Hong Kong has concluded Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements with 17 economies.

Trade in Textiles

Hong Kong continues to capitalise on its expertise and immense potential to develop into a world-class logistics and sourcing hub for textiles. At the same time, Hong Kong continues to maintain highly effective origin control measures to prevent abuse and to safeguard the interest of Hong Kong's textiles trade.

In 2010, the Customs and Excise Department carried out 9 089 factory and consignment inspections and concluded 158 investigations to combat illegal transhipment of textiles. The department also conducted 466 'blitz' check operations on textile consignments at various import and export control points. It successfully prosecuted 132 offenders, resulting in the imposition of fines amounting to $2.03 million.

Trade in Strategic Commodities

The Trade and Industry Department maintains a comprehensive import and export control licensing system to monitor the movement of strategic commodities through Hong Kong. The system ensures that while Hong Kong has access to advanced products and technologies to sustain its economic development, it is not used as a conduit for illicit diversion of strategic commodities. The department also administers a permit system to monitor activities involving sensitive chemicals as required by the Chemical Weapons Convention. Hong Kong maintains close