| Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2010-11 |
Reply Serial No.
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CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
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CEDB(CIT)151
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Question Serial No.
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2982
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Head :
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96 - Government Secretariat:
Overseas Economic and Trade Offices
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Subhead (No. & title) :
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-
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Programme :
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(1) Commercial Relations
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Controlling Officer :
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Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
(Commerce, Industry and Tourism)
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Director of Bureau :
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Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
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Question :
Provision for 2010-11 for the programme is $9.2 million (6.9%) higher than the revised estimate for 2009-10. Please provide the breakdown of the provision for 2010-11 in comparison with the provision for 2009-10 in terms of indicators of each of overseas Economic and Trade Offices, namely Brussels, Geneva, Berlin, London, New York, San Francisco, Washington, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto respectively.
Asked by : Hon. SHEK Lai-him, Abraham
Reply :
Under programme (1) Commercial Relations, the provision for 2010-11 is $9.2 million (6.9%) higher than the 2009-10 revised estimate. This is mainly due to the setting up cost and operating expenses for the newly established ETO in Berlin and increased salary for locally engaged staff and salary and allowance provisions for filling of vacancies and staff changes. The 2009-10 revised estimate, 2010-11 original estimate, 2009 actual indicators and 2010 estimated indictors of the ETOs are tabulated below:
| Overseas Economic and Trade Offices |
Brussels
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Geneva(1)
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Berlin
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London
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New York
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San Francisco
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Washington
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Singapore
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Sydney
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Tokyo
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Toronto
| Total |
Financial Provisions:
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Revised Estimate for 2009-10 ($million)
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14.4
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32.5
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9.6
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12.4
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7.5
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7.8
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20.7
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6.9
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5.1
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11.1
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6.2
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134.2
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Original Estimate for 2010-11 ($million)
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14.2
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32.9
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13.6
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11.3
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9.1
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6.8
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21.6
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7.6
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5.6
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14.3
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6.4
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143.4
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Indicators:
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Meetings on trade-related matters attended
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2009 Actual
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324
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1 476
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238
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280
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138
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115
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479
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134
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52
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181
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166
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3 583
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(2010 Estimate)
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(320)
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(1 500)
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(280)
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(250)
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(132)
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(115)
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(480)
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(134)
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(52)
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(175)
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(162)
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(3 600)
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Visits to host governments and trade organizations
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2009 Actual
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88
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0
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124
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194
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49
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55
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256
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104
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117
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108
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112
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1 207
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(2010 Estimate)
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(85)
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(0)
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(140)
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(200)
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(47)
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(56)
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(210)
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(103)
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(113)
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(105)
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(109)
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(1 168)(2)
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Seminars, exhibitions and workshops
organised
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2009 Actual
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25
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0
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22
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16
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19
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15
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12
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5
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18
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15
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34
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181
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(2010 Estimate)
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(22)
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(0)
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(30)
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(16)
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(17)
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(16)
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(10)
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(5)
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(18)
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(15)
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(35)
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(184)
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participated
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2009 Actual
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42
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23
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43
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44
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115
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58
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185
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54
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47
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46
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37
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694
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(2010 Estimate)
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(42)
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(20)
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(50)
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(45)
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(111)
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(60)
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(180)
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(54)
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(46)
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(45)
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(36)
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(689)(2)
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Public speeches given
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2009 Actual
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24
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0
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39
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70
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32
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30
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39
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23
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39
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15
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75
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386
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(2010 Estimate)
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(24)
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(0)
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(45)
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(60)
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(31)
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(30)
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(39)
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(23)
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(40)
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(15)
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(72)
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(379)(3)
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Media interviews/briefings given
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2009 Actual
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79
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1
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78
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58
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57
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24
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90
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48
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25
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72
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152
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684
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(2010 Estimate)
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(78)
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(0)
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(90)
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(56)
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(57)
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(24)
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(90)
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(48)
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(25)
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(75)
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(152)
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(695)
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Circulars/newsletters/press releases issued
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2009 Actual
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33
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0
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185
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151
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22
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36
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62
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104
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30
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27
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112
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762
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(2010 Estimate)
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(34)
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(0)
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(220)
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(145)
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(22)
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(36)
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(62)
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(104)
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(30)
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(27)
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(107)
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(787)
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Notes:
(1) As the role of the Geneva ETO is to represent Hong Kong as a member of the World Trade Organization, its main relevant indicator is relating to meetings on trade-related matters attended.
(2) The 2010 lower estimates for the (i) visits to host governments and trade organisations and (ii) seminars, exhibitions and workshops participated are mainly because Washington ETO recorded higher numbers in 2009 for additional meetings with host governments and congressional members and events organised in Washington to introduce the new Commissioner, USA.
(3) The 2010 lower estimate for public speeches given is mainly because there were higher-than-expected number of senior official visits requiring public speeches for London ETO in 2009. The London ETO expects that the level of activity should return to normal in 2010.
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Signature
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Name in block letters
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MISS YVONNE CHOI
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Post Title
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Permanent Secretary for
Commerce and Economic Development
(Commerce, Industry and Tourism)
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Date
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18.3.2010
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