ENG-2018 — Page 136

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Commerce and Industry

Business Facilitation

The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee and its task forces advise the government on the development and implementation of programmes and measures to facilitate business compliance with government regulations and to sustain a competitive regulatory environment for businesses in Hong Kong while safeguarding the public interest. The advisory committee provides an effective platform for the business, academic, professional and political sectors to communicate with government officials on new regulatory proposals or legislation in order to reduce compliance cost.

Business Liaison Groups foster dialogue between the government and major business sectors. to resolve regulatory and licensing matters at the operational level. A business consultation. e-platform helps businesses to access information on proposed regulations, administrative measures and procedures which may affect them, and to offer their comments.

Twenty-nine government bureaus and departments involved in licensing services for businesses take part in the government's 'Be the Smart Regulator' Programme to improve the efficiency, transparency and business-friendliness of the licensing work. A total of 132 measures to enhance licensing services were introduced in 2018-19.

Trade Documentation

As a free port, Hong Kong maintains optimal import and export documentation requirements to facilitate trade. Most products do not need licences to enter or leave the territory. Licences. are required mainly to fulfil Hong Kong's international obligations; to protect public health, safety, the environment and intellectual property rights; and to ensure the territory's continued access to advanced technologies and high-tech products. An origin certification system is in place to facilitate exports to external markets.

Road Cargo System

The Customs and Excise Department's Road Cargo System facilitates customs clearance of road cargo through prior risk-profiling. Under the arrangement, a shipper or his agent submits key cargo information electronically before the consignment is imported to, or exported from, Hong Kong. The arrangement allows cross-boundary goods vehicles, except those selected for inspection, to go through seamless customs clearance at land boundary control points.

Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme and Single E-lock Scheme

The Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (ITFS) simplifies customs clearance procedures for air-land and sea-land intermodal transhipment cargo. Enrolment is voluntary. Participating enterprises convey their transhipment cargo using goods vehicles installed with electronic locks and Global Positioning System devices recognised by the department. The cargo normally undergoes inspection only once, if selected at all, at the point of entry or exit.

The Single E-lock Scheme streamlines customs clearance procedures by connecting the ITFS with a speedy clearance system operated by Mainland customs. Mutually recognised electronic locks are used to minimise duplicate inspections of the same consignment at the boundary.

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