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Commerce and Industry

Trade and Industry Department

The Trade and Industry Department handles the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) commercial relations with its trading partners, and protects Hong Kong's trading rights and trade interests. It also promotes Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory and a model for international free trade.

Locally, the department provides a range of services to locally based trade and industry organisations and businesses, including issuing certificates of origin, export and import licences and certificates of Hong Kong service suppliers. It also provides general support services for various sectors, in particular SMEs, and provides local enterprises with relevant trade information and advises them on changes in major trading partners' import regulations.

The department also co-ordinates discussions with the Mainland authorities on the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

Invest Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong is responsible for attracting and retaining FDI which is of strategic importance to the economic development of Hong Kong. It supports overseas, Mainland and Taiwan companies to set up and expand their operations in Hong Kong. Invest Hong Kong conducts investment promotion activities worldwide through its 15 Investment Promotion Units in overseas ETOS, the Beijing Office and the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan, as well as its overseas consultants in another 14 strategic global locations.

Customs and Excise Department

The Customs and Excise Department enforces certain trade control systems for the issue of certificates of origin (including those under the CEPA), the import and export of textiles, strategic commodities, pharmaceutical products and medicines, reserved commodities, rough. diamonds and other prohibited articles, as well as compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The department also collects import and export declarations, declaration charges and clothing levies, and enforces the relevant statutory controls.

Moreover, the department enforces the criminal laws that protect copyright and trade marks, and consumer protection legislation relating to the safety of consumer goods, fair trade practices and the integrity of weights and measures.

Intellectual Property Department

The Intellectual Property Department operates the trade marks, patents, designs and copyright licensing bodies registries, 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. In addition, it facilitates and promotes the development of intellectual property trading in Hong Kong.

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

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