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Commerce and Industry

Geneva office (which mainly represents 'Hong Kong, China' as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and as a participant to the Trade Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development headquartered in París), the 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, government ministries/agencies, think tanks and the news media. They regularly organise events to promote Hong Kong's image and ETOS with an Investment Promotion Unit also offer support to individual enterprises interested in setting up or expanding their presence in Hong Kong.

The Brussels ETO represents Hong Kong's overall economic and trade interests in Europe, in particular in dealings with the European Union (including the European Commission and European Parliament). It also promotes Hong Kong's bilateral relations with 15 European countries. The London ETO represents Hong Kong's interests and promotes bilateral relations in nine countries. Hong Kong's representative to the International Maritime Organisation is based in the London ETO. The Berlin ETO fosters closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and eight countries in central and eastern Europe.

The Washington ETO represents Hong Kong's interests in the USA. It monitors federal government policies and legislation which may have implications on Hong Kong's economic and trade relationships with the USA. The New York ETO promotes Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in 31 eastern states of the USA, while the San Francisco ETO is responsible for 19 western states.

The ETOs in Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto are responsible for bilateral economic and trade relations in their host countries. In addition, the Sydney ETO covers New Zealand and the Tokyo ETO covers the Republic of Korea. The Singapore ETO looks after Hong Kong's bilateral economic and trade relations with the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian. Nations.

Details of the promotional activities organised by the overseas Hong Kong ETOs are in the section on Promoting Hong Kong Worldwide in Chapter 16 (The Media, Communications and Information Technology).

External Commercial Relations

Hong Kong's Participation in the World Trade Organisation

Hong Kong is a founding member of the WTO and has continued its separate membership since the establishment of the HKSAR under the name of 'Hong Kong, China. The rule-based multilateral trading system under the auspices of the WTO is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's external trade policy. Hong Kong participates actively in the current round of multilateral trade negotiations launched in Doha, Qatar, in 2001, mainly to seek greater market access for its services and goods. In December 2014, Hong Kong became the first WTO Member to join the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation, which is the first multilateral agreement concluded since the establishment of the WTO in 1995.

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