Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13
Question : The Trade and Industry Department keeps the strategic trade control system under review, with a view to further streamlining the procedures and rules without compromising the integrity and effectiveness of the control. For this, would the Administration please advise on the latest progress of the work concerned as well as the work plan for 2012/13 and the expenditure involved? Asked by : Hon. LAU Kin-yee, Miriam Reply : The Trade and Industry Department (TID) implements import and export licensing control on strategic commodities in accordance with the Import and Export Ordinance and the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations. Through close liaison with the trade, TID reviews the strategic trade control system from time to time, with a view to further streamlining rules and procedures, on the basis that the integrity and effectiveness of control will not be compromised. Major works are as follows: (1) in response to the latest requirements of the international control regimes, we have expedited the amendment of the list of controlled strategic commodities and relaxed the control on import and export of the items concerned where appropriate. The latest amendment to the control list took effect in January 2012. We will start a new round of amendment in 2012-13; (2) in 2012-13, we will continue to explore the possibility of enhancing the “Approval-in-Principal Arrangement for Bulk Users of Strategic Commodities Licensing Service” to facilitate the users of such service; and (3) to continue to explore the possibility of simplifying the licensing requirements for transhipment of strategic commodities through Hong Kong with a view to facilitating the trading and logistics sectors. The review is conducted with existing manpower resources and no extra expenditure will be incurred.
Question : Paragraph 120 of the budget speech mentioned about setting up a dedicated fund of $1 billion to help Hong Kong enterprises tap the Mainland market by restructuring and upgrading their operations, developing their brands and expanding domestic sales in the Mainland. Please advise this Committee: a) how the Administration will help the enterprises restructure and upgrade their operations; b) whether the Administration will introduce measures under the dedicated fund to help the existing enterprises transform their operations from “Original Equipment Manufacturing” (OEM) to “Original Design Manufacturing” (ODM)? Asked by : Hon. LEUNG LAU Yau-fun, Sophie Reply : To support Hong Kong enterprises, in particular SMEs, to capture the opportunities arising from the National 12th Five-Year Plan, the Chief Executive announced in the 2011 Policy Address a proposal to set up a dedicated fund of $1 billion to encourage them to move up the value chain and explore and develop the Mainland market through developing brands, restructuring and upgrading their operations and promoting domestic sales in the Mainland The fund would comprise two parts: (i) to provide funding support to individual Hong Kong companies to assist them in undertaking projects to develop brands, upgrade and restructure their business operations and promote sales in the Mainland market, so as to enhance their competitiveness and facilitate their business development in the Mainland market; and (ii) to provide funding support to non-profit-distributing organisations for them to undertake large-scale projects which aim to assist Hong Kong enterprises in general or in specific sectors to develop brands, upgrade and restructure business operations and promote sales in the Mainland market, so as to enhance their competitiveness in the Mainland market. The fund has a broad scope. Projects which focus on one or more areas of branding, restructuring and upgrading, and promoting domestic sales will be eligible to apply for the fund. For instance, in terms of restructuring and upgrading, projects which aim to facilitate business development through upgrading and restructuring business operations or production capacities, including those of business model upgrading and restructuring such as the conversion of an OEM enterprise into an ODM and/or Own Brand Manufacturing one, may apply for the fund. We have consulted the trade earlier and are finalising the operation details of the fund. We plan to seek the funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in April with a view to launching the fund by mid 2012.
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