Service industries are the major
driving force of the world economy, with one-quarter of cross-border trade already in
services. Hong Kong has developed into a service-oriented economy, with the services
sector contributing 90.7% of the GDP in 2005 and employing 86.3% of the working population in
2006 (or respectively 96.5% and 94.7% if construction and utilities services are
included). In external trade, Hong Kong's exports of services now exceed than of its
domestic manufactures.
The Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries was founded in 1990 by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
It is the Chamber's service policy think tank. With representatives from more than 50
service sectors, the HKCSI is the major private sector voice for Hong Kong's service
industries.
To promote the continuing development and competitiveness of Hong Kong's service
industries.
To achieve this, the HKCSI seeks to:
- promote the development of a "service friendly environment" in Hong Kong.
- provide a focal point for liaison with Government.
- establish and maintain cooperation between members of Hong Kong's service industries for
the purpose of achieving common goals.
- represent the interests of service industries in Hong Kong and to formulate policies and
make submissions on behalf of members of the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries.
- promote fair, effective and comprehensive international and multilateral rules for trade
in services.
- contribute to the opening of the services sector of the Mainland
- establish and develop links with counterpart organisations elsewhere.
Besides the Executive Committee, there are two
committees under HKCSI:
The HKCSI has significant representation in the advisory bodies of the
HKSAR Government. Its members sit on a wide range of government committees such as the
Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, the Services Promotion Strategy Group, the
Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee, etc. On its own initiative or by
invitation, the HKCSI presents papers
extensively to the Government on issues affecting business and the economy in general, and
the services sector in particular.
Internationally, the HKCSI is the Hong Kong private sector's principal
spokesman on the General Agreement on Trade in Services in international and multilateral
forums such as the World Trade Organisation, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Trade
Policy Forum of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and the International CSI
Conference.
S
The Coalitions of Service Industries is an informal network of private-sector business
organisations which share a common interest over the development of service industries
worldwide. The CSIs meet about one a year in a CSI Conference, which consists of the
following national business organisations:
In April 1998, the CSIs announced the formulation of the Global Services Network as
the main private sector voice in pushing for greater liberalisation of trade in services.
The CSIs are also closely related to other international bodies with an
interest in service industries which are of an academic and policy nature, suh as Services
World Forum, the WTO, OECD and UNCTAD.
The Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries
22/F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 25299229 Fax: (852) 2527 9843
e-mail: csi@hkcsi.org.hk
Homepage: http://www.hkcsi.org.hk |
