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Trade and Industry Department
Performance Pledge
The Trade and Industry Department is responsible for conducting Hong
Kong's international trade relations, implementing trade policies and agreements, as well as providing general support services for industries and small and medium enterprises.
A Review of
2011
Meeting the Pledge
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In 2011, we promulgated performance targets for a total of 41 services.
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We were able to achieve 100% compliance for our licensing/certification/registration services, services related to the certification of Hong Kong service suppliers under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), and services provided by our Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS).
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For the three SME funding schemes, we also achieved 100% compliance in processing applications for the SME Development Fund (SDF) and the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS). As regards the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF), our compliance rate was 98.3%. Owing to seasonal fluctuations, some of the applications could not be processed within the performance target during the peak seasons.
Advice and Feedback
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We attach great importance to advice and feedback from our advisors and customers. In 2011, we continued to work closely with the Textiles Advisory Board, the Trade and Industry Advisory Board and the SME Committee for advice on important issues and on ways to further improve our services.
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We also obtained useful feedback and suggestions on our services through members of the customer liaison groups on strategic commodities, SMEs and rice respectively.
CEPA
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The Mainland and Hong Kong signed Supplement VIII to CEPA on 13 December 2011. It provides for a total of 32 services liberalisation and trade and investment facilitation measures, including 23 liberalisation measures in 16 service sectors, and strengthens cooperation in areas of finance, tourism, innovation and technology etc. Both parties also agreed to enhance origin criteria under trade in goods, and relax the definition and related requirements of
"Hong Kong Service Supplier". CEPA rules of origin for 1 732 products have now been agreed. Products meeting these rules may enjoy zero-tariff in entering the Mainland market.
SME Funding Schemes
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In July 2011, the total loan guarantee commitment under SGS was increased substantially from $20 billion to $30 billion, and the total commitment for EMF and SDF was increased from $2.75 billion to $3.75 billion.
Textiles Licensing
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The licensing requirements for Hong
Kong's textiles exports and imports have been relaxed during 2011. Those involving the
"non-sensitive markets" and all textiles transhipments were exempted from textiles licensing effective from 20 May 2011.
2012 Pledges
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The performance pledge of the Trade and Industry Department for 2012 is at
Annex (pdf format). As part of our continued efforts to improve our service, we have shortened the processing time for one service. As in previous years, the performance indicators for our commercial relations activities are included in the pledge to give a comprehensive picture of the
Department's work in safeguarding and maximising Hong Kong's trade interests.
The Way Forward
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We are committed to serving our customers with dedication and professionalism. In 2012, we shall continue to make the best efforts to deliver better and more client-oriented services.
Trade and Industry Department
30
March 2012¡@
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