Policy on Supporting Trade and Industry (including Small and Medium Enterprises)

There are around 360 000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong, constituting more than 98% of our business establishments and employing more than 43% of our workforce in the private sector.

The Trade and Industry Department (TID) provides support services which aim to facilitate the development of SMEs in Hong Kong and help them enhance competitiveness. To achieve the objective, the TID strives to work in the three areas described below.

(1) Implementation of support programmes for SMEs

• provide SMEs with a comprehensive range of free business information through the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS in short);
• co-ordinate the efforts of the four SME centres, namely, the “SUCCESS” under the TID, the “SME Centre” under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the “SME One” under the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the “TecONE” under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, to provide “Four-in-One” integrated services;
• provide information on support services relevant to SMEs through the “SME Link” web portal;
• oversee the work of “SME ReachOut”;
• promote the importance of brand building and provide information on brand development to the trade; and
• organise the Hong Kong Awards for Industries.

(2) Administering funding schemes

• administer the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund); the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) and the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund (TSF).

(3) Liaison with the trade and industry sector

• provide secretariat service to the Trade and Industry Advisory Board and the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee;
• liaise with local trade and industrial organisations; and
• compile the Directory of Hong Kong Trade and Industrial Organisations.

The Government also provides other forms of support, such as financing, technology and product development, testing and certification, clean production, manpower training, and export credit.