The Division organized a Chamber site visit to the “ Refabricating City ” Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale on 6 March at the Central Police Station compound.  About 10 members attended.

The Financial Services Committee presented a seminar on 1 February on “Sub-prime and the global credit crisis – impact on Hong Kong and Asia ”, with four leading financial experts and economists sharing their views with some 90 participants.

The Global Services Coalition issued a joint statement – to which the HKCSI contributed – on 12 February (13 February Hong Kong time) commenting on the just-released Report by the chair of the WTO services negotiations Ambassador de Mateo.  The Report, entitled “Elements Required for the Completion of the Services Negotiations”, was the result of advocacy by the GSC.

The HKCSI Executive Committee met on 19 February to review progress of the WTO Doha Round of negotiations and to consider the various policy studies planned or being undertaken by the HKCSI, including competition policy, education and manpower, wealth management, sustainable development and the 12^th Five Year Plan.

Dr WK Chan received a delegation from the US comprising three senior Majority staff of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia , the Pacific and the Global Environment on 23 February.

The DIT Committee met on 28 February with the Government Chief Information Officer to discuss the government’s updated Digital 21 Strategy.

Mr Tony Miller , Chamber member and former head of Hong Kong government’s Geneva Office attended the High-level Consultation on Trade in Services for Regional Integration on behalf of the Chamber on 28-29 February 2008 in Macao .  The event was organized jointly by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/WTO).

Chamber CEO Mr Alex Fong was appointed as a member of an anti-spam task force chaired by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.  The task force held its first meeting on 15 January at which Mr Fong was represented by the Division’s senior manager Charlotte Chow.

During the month the Division, through senior manager Thinex Shek, is involved in the Chamber working group to organize a knowledge management forum in March.  The DIT Committee is leading the initiative with the Industry and Technology Committee providing support.

The Chamber is supporting organization of the Software Asset Management (SAM) Consultancy Programme organized by the Intellectual Property Department and the Business Software Alliance.  The programme has successfully lined up more than 100 companies to undertake the SAM consultancy.

On 21 January the Division presented a roundtable luncheon on “Making Hong Kong a more liveable city as we look towards 2030” , with Director of Planning Mrs Ava Ng talking to some 50 members on the government’s 2030 study.

The Creative Industries Working Group of the Chamber’s services policy think-tank the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries met on 23 January to exchange views with Dr Patrick Mok, author of a policy study by the Bauhinia Foundation on Hong Kong as a creative metropolis.  Dr WK Chan was co-convenor of the study group in his own capacity.

Dr Chan and the Division’s senior manager Charlotte Chow attended the Chamber’s Shipping/Transport Committee meeting on 23 January.  This follows a new cross-divisional arrangement under which they will assist in the business advocacy issues arising from the Committee.

The Travel/Tourism committee met on 25 January, followed by a roundtable luncheon to introduce the Jockey Club’s plan to conserve and revitalize the Central Police Station Compound, with the Club’s William Yiu speaking to more than 50 members on their $1.8 billion proposal.

The HKCSI is signatory to “A Call to Leadership – the Joint Business Statement on the Doha Round” coordinated by the US National Foreign Trade Council.  The statement was signed by 37 organisations from 19 jurisdictions, and was released to the public on 10 December.

On 13 December, the division presented a roundtable luncheon on “ Hong Kong ’s ever rising property market – when will it come down?” with property market expert Mr Peter Churchouse speaking to over 70 members.

The Travel/Tourism Committee met on 1 November to discuss the impact of Macau on Hong Kong ’s convention and exhibition sectors.  

On 2 November Director of Intellectual Property Mr Stephen Selby explained the new criminal liability for directors and partners under the revised Copyright Ordinance to over 30 members at a Government-at-Work roundtable.  To help members comply with the Ordinance, the Chamber issued a circular to all members on 5 November.

On 7 November the Chamber submitted its response to the government on legislative proposals on nutrition labeling, after consulting members of the Retail/Distribution Committee.

Division Senior Manager Charlotte Chow and Retail & Distribution Committee member Eric Chin received a delegation from the Guangdong Chain Operations Association on 7 November and shared experiences with them on franchising in Hong Kong .

HKCSI Chairman Mr Nick Brooke led an 8-member delegation on the annual HKCSI visit to Beijing on 8 November.  The delegation met and held discussion with Deputy Secretary General Yang Weimin of the State Development and Reform Commission, as well as research officials of the Commission's Institute for International Economic Research.  A lunch for the delegation was hosted by CCPIT.  The delegation also visited property developments near the Beijing Olympic venue. 

The HKCSI took part in the drafting of a statement by the Global Services Coalition calling for a strong services text in the Doha Round of trade negotiations.  The statement was issued to the WTO on 13 November.

The HKCSI hosted a lunch meeting with Hong Kong ’s Permanent Representative the WTO Mr Martin Glass on 20 November, to discuss the latest development of the Doha Round of negotiations.

The Hong Kong University Telecoms Research Project organized a forum on mobile payments in Asia Pacific on 27th November 2007.  The Chamber is a supporting organization of the forum.

Dr WK Chan attended the second informal meeting on “Brand HK” convened by the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development with the major chambers of commerce on 28 November.  

Dr Chan met Denis Redonnet, Chief of Cabinet of the Trade Commissioner of the European Commission on 29 November to discuss progress of the WTO’s Doha Round, particularly the negotiations on trade in services.

Dr Chan received Ambassador Mario Matus, Permanent Representative to the WTO of Chile and chair of the Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session, on 4 December to exchange views on progress of the Doha Round of negotiations.

Dr W K Chan and Chamber CEO Alex Fong joined the International Conference on Service Industry organized by the Boao Forum on 7 December in Shenzhen.  Both the USCSI President Bob Vastine and Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang were keynote speakers.

On 4 October the Retail and Distribution Committee met with economist Mr Peter Churchouse to discuss the property market in the retail sector.

Following consultation with the relevant Chamber committees, especially the Retail and Distribution Committee, on 5 October the Chamber submitted its response to a government consultation paper on proposed amendments to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance to strengthen consumer protection.

The Chamber is a co-organiser of the Software Asset Management Consultancy Service Programme under the Genuine Business Software Campaign organized by the Intellectual Property Department.  The launching ceremony of the programme was held on 8 October 2007.  The Chamber was represented by SME Committee Chairman Mr Gerry Ma.

The Chamber undertook consultation among relevant committees on the draft code of practice on the Unsolicited Electronic Mail Ordinance.  After collecting views from members, the Chamber is arranging further forums between the government and stakeholders to discuss implementation of the code.

Dr W K Chan attended a meeting of the HKTDC Professional Services Advisory Committee on 23 October.

The HKCSI Executive Committee met on 24 October to review progress of the CSI initiatives and prepare for the HKCSI delegation to Beijing .

The Financial Services Committee met on 26 October to discuss the policy issues affecting the financial industries and Hong Kong as a financial center.

The Division presented a roundtable luncheon on 30 October on the West Kowloon Cultural District, with Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Esther Leung introducing the government scheme to some 50 participants.

On 7 September the Division presented a Roundtable luncheon with Dr David Evans speaking to an audience of over 30 on competition policy trends and their implications.

The HKCSI Competition Policy Expert Group met on 12 September with government consultant Messrs Ron Arculli and David Olds to exchange views on the competition policy regime being established by the HKSAR government.

The Chamber DIT Committee held its regular meeting on 12 September with computer services businessman Mr Ng Cheung Shing sharing his experience in founding and managing IT business in China .

The Chamber will join the Intellectual Property Department in organizing a Software Asset Management consultancy service for SMEs, as part of the IPD’s outreach programme to promote IPR protection for software.

HKCSI Secretary General Dr WK Chan attended a conference of the Global Services Coalition at Geneva on 26-27 September.  The GSC mission was led by Ambassador Sergi Marchi of the Canadian Services Coalition, who was former Ambassador of Canada to the WTO and former Chairman of the WTO General Council.  The 45-member delegation met and held meetings with ambassadors of various WTO members, as well as WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, calling on the WTO to deliver tangible results on liberalization of trade in services.  Accordingly, on September 28, the WTO services negotiating committee authorized the preparation of a text that would state a strong level of ambition for the services negotiations.

Dr WK Chan attended an informal meeting convened by the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Ms Yvonne Choi on 17 August to discuss promotion of “Brand Hong Kong”, the action agenda from the Government’s Economic Summit on the 11^th Five Year Plan.

During the month Dr W K Chan conducted discussion with Dr Razeen Sally of the London School of Economics and Prof James Tang of HKU on possible cooperation on multilateral trade policy research.

The second meeting of the HKCSI study group on education and manpower was held on 28 August with David Dodwell giving a presentation on education in relation to competitiveness.

On 5 July the newly formed HKCSI study group on education and manpower held its first meeting.  The group is led by the HKCSI but included representatives from other relevant Chamber Committees such as Manpower Committee.  At the first meeting the group heard a presentation by a team from the Chinese University on the aspiration for overseas education of Mainland youth.

On 9-10 July Dr W K Chan joined a CEPA mission organized by the China division to Guangdong Province to visit the Provincial Government as well as Chamber member firms to share views on experience in CEPA.

On 11 July Dr W K Chan attended a meeting of the Professional Services Advisory Committee of the Trade Development Council.

On 12 July Dr W K Chan attended and chaired a session of the APEC Conference on Powering SMEs organized by the APEC Financial Institutions Dealing with SMEs.

Dr W K Chan and representatives of the Financial Services Committee attended the first meeting of the Chamber task group on statutory backing for listing rules on 12 July.  The group is led by the Economic Analysis and Legislative Affairs Division and chaired by Chamber Deputy Chairman Mr Andrew Brandler.

The HKCSI Statistical Card 2007 was published and distributed.  The publication was sponsored by the HSBC.

As the Commerce Industry and Technology Bureau decided not to sponsor the Servicing Economy Newsletter, the HKCSI Executive Committee decided to discontinue the publication.

On 4 June Dr W K Chan attended the APEC Symposium on Trade Facilitation 2007 organised by APEC and the HKSAR government.

The Digital Information and Telecommunications Committee met on 13 June to discuss the implementation of the digital terrestrial television, and to consider policy issues relating to the digital information and telecom industries.  The Committee also elected Ms Cindy Cheng as new Chairperson succeeding Mr Stephen Ng.

The division is forming a study group under the HKCSI on education and manpower issues, to follow up the policy issues identified earlier by the HKCSI and in the CEO Manpower Conference.  The Division also helped in the formation of another Chamber task group on statutory backing for listing companies, with members of the Financial Services Committee participating.

The HKCSI Executive Committee met on 21 June to review the latest progress of the WTO Doha Round. The Committee also welcomed Ms Angela Lee who succeeded Rosanna Law as Trade and Industry Department’s representative on the HKCSI.

As the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau decided not to sponsor the Servicing Economy Newsletter, the HKCSI Executive Committee decided to discontinue the publication.

Following deliberation among members of the Digital Information and Telecommunications Committee, the Chamber submitted its response to the government on the Review on Administration of Internet Domain Names in Hong Kong on 22 June.

The HKCSI Financial Services Committee met on 25 June with a team from the Securities and Futures Commission led by CEO Mr Martin Wheatley to discuss the relevant action agenda in financial services arising from the Economic Summit on the 11^th Five Year Plan.  The Committee also elected Mr Leland Sun of PanAsia as Chairman and Mr Anthony Wu of Wing Lung Bank as Vice Chairman.

On 29 June the Fourth Supplement to CEPA (CEPA V) was signed between the HKSAR and the Central Government.  The new CEPA package offers substantial liberalization in a wide range of service sectors.  Some 60% of the measures are answers to the various “CEPA Wish Lists” submitted by the Chamber.

The Retail and Distribution Committee met on 4 May to hear TDC Chief Economist Mr Edward Leung speak on a TDC survey on “the new consumer” in the Mainland.

After consultation with the Legal, SME and DIT committees, on 8 May the Chamber submitted its response to the government consultation document on Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment.

Dr W K Chan attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Manpower Committee Chairman Mr Steve Tait on 9 May, to meet with speakers of the Conference.  The Division will assist in formulating the advocacy message from the Conference.

Two task groups are being formed to tackle the issues of business facilitation and the financial services action agenda from the Economic Summit on the 11^th Five Year Plan.  Both task groups will be chaired by Chamber CEO Mr Alex Fong with the Division acting as secretariat, and the Chief Economist providing support.

On 18 May, Division Senior Manager Charlotte Chow gave a presentation on "Is franchising for me?" to the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Kwun Tong).

On 21 May the Division presented a mini seminar on the future of Hong Kong’s population, with Commissioner of Census and Statistics Mr HW Fung and demographic expert Dr Paul Yip sharing their insights on the 2006 population by-census.

Dr W K Chan attended a meeting of the vetting panel of the Designsmart Initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission on 22 May.

The Division helped in formulating the advocacy message for the CEO Manpower Conference on 30 May organized by the Manpower Committee.

The Division has taken over the responsibility of co-ordinating the "Government-at-Work" series of roundtable luncheons. A session with the Hong Kong Observatory has been planned.

The Division help prepared an introduction letter for a Chamber Committee Member for doing business in the Mainland market.

The Division had invited Chamber members in the business of cinema/family amusement center/theme park to meet with the government Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit (EABFU).  The purpose of the meetings is to improve communications between licensing authorities and the trade.

On 17 April Dr WK Chan met with Dr Othmar Wyss and Mr Erwin Bollinger of the Export Control and Sanctions Department of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland to discuss trade issues between Hong Kong and Europe.

On 17 April, at another “Meet the Banker” series luncheon, Standard Chartered Bank CEO Peter Sullivan spoke on “A Business Risk Unnoticed: HIV/AIDS” to an audience of well over 100.  The series was initiated by the Financial Services Committee.

The Division organized a special tour for 25 General Committee and senior members of the Chamber to Terminal 2, a new passenger terminal at Hong Kong International Airport, on April 18 to learn more about the new HK$2.8 billion facility and the Airport Authority's expansion plans.

Dr W K Chan met over dinner with Bob Vastine, Executive Director of the USCSI during his visit to Hong Kong on 19 April.

To help members respond to the latest draft of the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill, the Division organized a meeting with interested members from relevant committees on 24 April.  Following the meeting, on 30 April the Chamber submitted further views on the Bill to the Legislative Council.  This was the fourth submission of the Chamber on the subject.

The Digital Information and Telecommunications Committee met on 14 March to discuss, among other things, the government consultation paper on copyright protection in the digital environment.

Dr WK Chan attended a meeting of the TDC Professional Services Advisory Committee on 20 March.

On 21 March, Charlotte Chow and Certification Division Senior Director Dr YS Cheung had a lunch meeting with Dr Wang Tongsan, Director of the Institute of Quantitative & Technical Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who spoke at a Chamber Roundtable Luncheon on “China's Economic Development: An Insider Analysis” on the same day.

The HKCSI organized a close-door luncheon with Mr Stuart Harbinson, Special Advisor to WTO Director General and former Hong Kong Permanent Representative to the WTO, on 28 March to discuss progress of the Doha Round of trade negotiations.

On 30 March the Division’s senior manager Charlotte Chow attended a breakfast meeting on “Forum on Mainland-Hong Kong Criminal Copyright Laws” organized by the Intellectual Property Department.

Following consultation among the HKCSI and the Chamber General Committee, the Chamber’s response to the government public discussion document on competition policy, developed by the HKCSI Expert Group on Competition Policy, was approved by the General Committee and submitted to the government on 5 February.

On 7 February the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Coalition of Service Industries met to review the latest progress of the WTO Doha Round, as well as discuss the work plan for the HKCSI.  Among other things, the HKCSI decided to launch a study into the manpower needs of Hong Kong for the next decade.

The Telecoms Research Project of Hong Kong University, of which the Chamber is a supporting organization, presented a forum on the topic of Radio Spectrum Issues on 8th February.

The third “Meet the Banker” series initiated by the HKCSI Financial Services Committee was held on 9 February, featuring Bank of China CEO Mr He Guangbei speaking to a 150-plus audience.

The Financial Services Committee met on 9 February with Mr Edmund Tse of AIA Group giving an account to the committee on the action agenda relating to the insurance industry under the Chief Executive’s Economic Summit on Hong Kong and the 11^th Five Year Plan.  Mr Tse was convenor of the insurance subgroup under the Focus Group on Financial Services established by the Summit.

On 14 February the Chamber submitted further comments to the Legislative Council Bills Committee on the Copyright Amendment (2006) Bill, giving the Chamber’s views on the latest amendments in respect of director/partner criminal liability.

Dr WK Chan met Ambassador Jorg Al Reding, head of Economic Development Cooperation Division of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, on 15 February 2007 to discuss multilateral trade and economic policies.

On 9 January 2007 the Division presented a Roundtable luncheon on “Understanding the financial value of your brand”, with brand valuation expert Dr Roger Sinclair speaking to 70 members on deriving value from branding.

On 10 January 30 members attended a Chamber forum on the government’s consultative document on competition policy.  The forum was to collect member views to help facilitate the preparation of a response to the government consultation by the Chamber expert group on competition policy.

The HKCSI joined 18 other international organizations, including members of the Global Services Coalition, issued a joint statement on 15 January on the Doha Development Round, emphasizing the need for progress on the negotiations and that “failure is not an option”.

The Division prepared a Chamber paper summarizing the views of the Financial Services Committee, the SME Committee and the Manpower Committee on the revision to the maximum and minimum levels of MPF contributions.  The paper was submitted to the Legislative Council on 30 January.

HKCSI Activities 2002-2006