ENG-2016 — Page 123

5

Commerce and Industry

also oversees the development of policies and programmes for the industrial and trade sectors, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and the promotion of services industries. The branch is assisted by the Trade and Industry Department, Invest Hong Kong, Customs and Excise Department, Intellectual Property Department, Hongkong Post and Hong Kong Observatory. It is also supported by Hong Kong's overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs).

Trade and Industry Department

The Trade and Industry Department handles the HKSAR's commercial relations with its trading partners, and protects Hong Kong's trading rights and trade interests.

Domestically, the department provides locally based trade and industry organisations and businesses with services that include issuing certificates of origin, export and import licences and certificates of Hong Kong service suppliers. It offers general support services to various sectors, in particular SMEs, and provides local enterprises with trade information and advice on changes in major trading partners' import regulations.

Invest Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) is responsible for attracting and retaining FDI that is of strategic importance to the territory's economic development. It supports overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese companies to set up and expand their operations in Hong Kong. Investment promotion activities are conducted worldwide through its 15 Investment Promotion Units in overseas and Mainland ETOS, the Beijing Office and the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan, as well as its overseas consultants in another 15 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 Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA); the import and export of strategic commodities, pharmaceutical products and medicines, reserved commodities, rough diamonds and other prohibited articles; as well as compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. It collects import and export declarations, declaration charges and clothing levies, and enforces statutory controls.

The department also enforces the criminal laws that protect copyrights 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, gives expert advice on policy and legislation related to intellectual property, provides civil legal advice on intellectual property to the government, and promotes public awareness of and respect for intellectual property rights. It also facilitates and promotes the development of Hong Kong as a premier intellectual property trading hub in the region.

89