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Commerce and Industry

expand their operations in Hong Kong. Investment promotion activities are conducted through its 17 investment promotion units worldwide, 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 and other free trade agreements signed with Hong Kong's trading partners; 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 the clothing industry training levy, and enforces statutory controls.

The department also enforces the criminal laws that protect copyrights and trademarks, 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 four registries for trademarks, patents, designs and copyright licensing bodies, makes recommendations on intellectual property policy and legislation, provides civil legal advice on intellectual property matters to the government, and promotes public awareness of and respect for intellectual property rights. It also facilitates and promotes Hong Kong's development as an intellectual property trading hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices

There are 13 overseas Hong Kong ETOs, in Bangkok, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, Jakarta, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington DC. The Geneval ETO represents Hong Kong, China as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and as a participant at the Trade Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), while the other ETOS promote Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in the countries under their respective purviews by enhancing understanding of Hong Kong among opinion-formers; monitoring developments that may affect Hong Kong's economic and trade interests; and liaising with government bodies, politicians, businesses, think tanks and the media. They organise events to promote Hong Kong's image, and those with investment promotion units also offer support to individual enterprises interested in setting up operations or expanding their presence in Hong Kong.

The Brussels ETO represents Hong Kong's overall economic and trade interests in Europe, particularly 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 Berlin ETO covers eight countries in central and eastern Europe, while the London ETO is responsible for nine countries and is also the base of Hong Kong's representative to the International Maritime Organisation.

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