Press Releases

CE receives SME Committee report
Wednesday, June 27, 2001

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (June 27) thanked the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee (SMEC) for its work in the past six months to study ways to further support and facilitate the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Committee's Chairman, Mr Chan Wing-kee, together with [three] working group convenors, submitted the report to the Chief Executive this morning.

Mr Tung said the Government would study the report's recommendations carefully. He said: "SMEs are a pillar of Hong Kong's economy. We should build on the range of support measures being provided by Government and various organizations, and help SMEs strengthen their long-term capabilities and competitiveness in a knowledge-based and increasingly globalised economy."

"I will ask the Commerce and Industry Bureau, in consultation with other government bureaux and departments and relevant organizations, to study the feasibility of the recommendations and the priority for implementation, and to advise me on the way forward as soon as practicable," he added.

Appointed by the Chief Executive in December last year, the SMEC is tasked to explore new measures to further support the development of SMEs under the themes of 'helping to start a new business', 'helping to build a new business' and 'helping to expand a business'.

The Committee comprises five working groups, their convenors are: Mr Anthony Au Wai-hung; Mr Chan Tze-ching; Mr Hui Cheung-ching; Mr Gilbert Lau Wai-kwong; and Mr Danny Ngai Kam-fai.