A Report on Support Measures for Small and Medium Enterprises

Chapter 6

Conclusion

6.1     Over the past six months, the Committee has considered in detail the major problems encountered by SMEs in starting, building and expanding their businesses. It has also exchanged views with different sectors in the community on how these problems might be resolved and how the capabilities of SMEs might be enhanced. The Committee has now put forward, for the Chief Executive's consideration, practical recommendations in six areas, namely business environment, financing, corporate governance and culture, human resources, technology application, and market expansion.

6.2     Briefly, the Committee envisages that, through the recommended support measures, the capacity of SMEs will be enhanced so that they are better prepared for the challenges and opportunities brought about by three main emerging trends, namely the globalisation of world economy, China's impending accession to the WTO, and the evolution of Hong　Kong into a knowledge-based economy. With suitable incentives and resource support, SMEs will be able to play a crucial role in the new economic order.

6.3     The Committee hopes that SME entrepreneurs will appreciate that, at the end of the day, it is their own values, the targets they set for their enterprises, their perseverance, and their commitments which are the keys to the long-term survival and growth of their enterprises. This is why, apart from recommending Government to enhance support measures, the Committee also lays great stress on SMEs' own responsibility in taking the initiative to make good use of the recommended support measures to equip themselves in striving for continuous self-improvement and excellence. The title of this report, "Staying Ahead: Smart, Motivated, Enterprising", sums up the Committee's sincere advice and encouragement to SMEs.

6.4     The Committee hopes that the four funding schemes will provide incentives for SMEs to focus on and channel more resources to the six areas listed in paragraph6.1 above. The Committee further hopes that the funding schemes will help to pool resources together so that concerted efforts can be taken to help SMEs pursue excellence in those areas. The Committee is confident that, with the coordinated efforts of support organizations, encouragement from the Government, and above all their own determination to improve and move forward, SMEs in Hong Kong will live up to the spirit of the title of this report.

6.5     The Committee hopes that the recommended support measures in this report will be accepted by the Chief Executive for implementation by the Government, with the necessary support of relevant organizations and SMEs themselves. The Committee hopes that the recommendations will become the blueprint for promoting SME development in Hong Kong. During its term of office, the Committee will do its best to assist the Government in implementing the various recommendations step by step, and in reviewing their effectiveness.

List of abbreviations

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