Hong Kong's Government Unveils New Initiatives to Boost Trade, Support SMEs, and Enhance Economic Growth.

CEDB briefs Trade and Industry Advisory Board on Policy Address

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, briefed members of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board on major initiatives related to promoting economic and trade developments and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" at a meeting today (October 2).

Mr Yau said that the Policy Address has set out a series of initiatives to better leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of being closely connected to both the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" principle to actively explore new economic growth areas. To more proactively support Mainland enterprises going global, the Government will establish a one-stop platform by mobilising Hong Kong's overseas offices, including those under Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), as well as Hong Kong offices on the Mainland, and set up the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to encourage Mainland enterprises to use Hong Kong in expanding their businesses overseas and to formulate proposals for them. The target is to discuss strategies and work plan of the Task Force, and organise the first large-scale promotion event by the end of this year.

Mr Yau stressed that the Government is committed to expanding international economic and trade networks, and deepening international exchanges and co-operation to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international trade centre. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in Kuala Lumpur will come into operation progressively by the end of this year, and the Government will expand the coverage of the current ETOs in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to deepen economic and trade promotion in ASEAN and neighbouring countries, and plan to expand the ETO coverage to more markets with potential. In addition, the Government will continue to proactively take forward the work on free trade agreements and investment agreements.

Mr Yau highlighted that the Policy Address has strengthened relevant support for SMEs in view of the challenges facing them due to external influences. The application period for the 80% Guarantee Product under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme will be extended for two years, and the principal moratorium arrangement will be further extended for one year. In addition, to assist SMEs in expanding into more diversified markets, the Government will inject $1.43 billion into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) and expand its geographical scope to cover eight more economies, including Belt and Road countries. Meanwhile, the Government will enhance promotion and facilitate the participation of enterprises in exhibitions and export marketing activities through "Easy BUD".

The Government will also assist SMEs in developing cross-border e-commerce business, including supporting the continued organisation of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, covering the Mainland and ASEAN e-commerce markets over the next three years, implementing the "Creativity • Ecommerce – Beyond Limits" programme and providing one-stop business matching and referral services. The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECIC) will also increase financing support for local e-commerce businesses on different e-commerce platforms and further expand the coverage of free buyer credit checks to all markets insured by the HKECIC.

Mr Yau added that the Government will set up the "Economic and Trade Express", joining the efforts of ETOs and overseas offices of InvestHK and the HKTDC to form a functional platform to enhance synergy, encouraging local SMEs and start-ups to conduct overseas visits to explore more business opportunities.

On intellectual property (IP), the Government will assist innovative enterprises in leveraging IPs for financing to enhance the IP trade ecosystem. This includes launching an IP financing sandbox pilot project, providing patent evaluation for enterprises, launching a pilot programme to subsidise patent valuations and promoting IP financing in the Business of IP Asia Forum, as well as providing training on IP for practitioners in the banking sector.

Mr Yau also briefed the members on the Government's work in promoting digital trade. On business-to-government trade documents, the Government is pressing ahead with the development of the information technology system of Phase 3 of the Trade Single Window, and will continue its work on connecting the single windows of Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as exploring the connectivity with the ASEAN Single Window. The Government is also drawing reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records to consider legislative amendments to provide a legal basis for the digitalisation of business-to-business trade documents.

Mr Yau said that in the face of the complex and ever-changing global trade landscape and geopolitics, the series of measures will enable Hong Kong to strengthen its dual role as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", actively integrating into the overall national development while tapping international new markets and creating new impetus for Hong Kong's economy, thereby promoting high-quality economic developments.

CEDB briefs Trade and Industry Advisory Board on Policy Address Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CEDB briefs Trade and Industry Advisory Board on Policy Address Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases