Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, formerly at 6 Grafton Street
Traditional Chinese	香港經濟貿易辦事處
Simplified Chinese	香港经济贸易办事处
Jyutping	hoeng1 gong2 ging1 zai3 mau6 yik6 baan6 si6 cyu3
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Jǐngjì Wénhùa Bànshìchù Wade–Giles Hsiang-kang Chingchi Wenhua Panshihch'u Tongyong Pinyin Siānggǎng Jǐngjì Wúnhùa Bànshìhchù Yale Romanization Syānggǎng Jǐngjì Wénhwà Bànshr̀chù Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization heūng góng gīng jái màu yik baahn sih chyú Jyutping hoeng1 gong2 ging1 zai3 mau6 yik6 baan6 si6 cyu3

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) are the trade offices of Hong Kong outside the territory. There are 14 HKETOs outside Hong Kong and China, and seven in China (four offices and three liaison units).

In addition to HKETOs, the Hong Kong Government has an office in Beijing, the capital of China, called the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing.

Functions

Hong Kong has full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong provides that it shall be a separate customs territory and may, using the name 'Hong Kong, China', participate in relevant international organisations and international trade agreements, such as the World Trade Organization.

The HKETOs concentrate most of their work on promoting Hong Kong's economic and trade interests. The major function of HKETOs include:

• Enhancing understanding of Hong Kong among opinion-formers
• Monitoring developments that might affect Hong Kong's economic and trading interests
• Liaising closely with the business and commercial sectors, politicians and the news media.
• Organize events to promote Hong Kong's image
• Regularly meeting with counterparts and contacts in the territories under their purview
• Organizes overseas visits of senior Hong Kong officials

HKETO London serves concurrently as Hong Kong's permanent mission to the International Maritime Organisation, HKETO Brussels to the European Union, and HKETO Geneva to the World Trade Organisation.

In countries or territories where no HKETO is present, diplomatic missions of China have the duty to represent Hong Kong's interests. Visa applications at these missions are, nevertheless, sent to and processed by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong.

Organisation

Overseas HKETOs were placed under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government. Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing and other parts of Mainland China placed under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. The head of the HKETOs are usually called Director.

Privileges and immunities

The privileges and immunities granted to the HKETOs are the result of negotiations with the host governments and these vary from one office to another. In some cases, the host governments (such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany) have granted certain privileges and immunities to the HKETOs through dedicated domestic legislation.

At present, all eleven overseas HKETOs have been granted certain privileges and immunities by respective host governments to facilitate the HKETOs to discharge their duties without intervention. Broadly speaking, the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the HKETOs mainly include the inviolability of premises, official correspondence, archives and documents as well as the exemption of premises and representatives from taxation.

HKETO Berlin is the only regional representative office in Germany that has a quasi-diplomatic status.

Locations

     Countries hosting an office     Main office and subordinate office in a neighbouring state ██ Singapore office and countries covered by it
██ London office and countries covered by it
██ Brussels office and countries covered by it
██ Berlin office and countries covered by it

The HKETOs outside the Mainland China Region, particularly those in Europe and Asia, have responsibilities for several countries. Those in the mainland similarly have responsibilities across several provinces.

Greater China Region

Mainland China

• Chengdu – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu
  • Chongqing – Chongqing Liaison Unit
• Guangzhou – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong
  • Fuzhou – Fujian Liaison Unit
  • Shenzhen – Shenzhen Liaison Unit
• Shanghai – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai
• Wuhan – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan

Taiwan

• Taipei – Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office

Outside the Greater China Region

HKETO in Singapore, on the 34th floor of the office building at Suntec City Tower 2.

HKETO in Washington D.C., United States.

HKETO in San Francisco, United States.

HKETO in Toronto, Canada.

• Berlin- Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin
  • Responsible for Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.
• Brussels – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels
  • Responsible for the European Union and covering also the relations with Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Turkey.
• Geneva – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Geneva
  • Responsible for the WTO and covering also the ISO, the Trade Committee of the OECD and the WMO.
• Jakarta – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta (Future)
• "New Delhi - Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office,New Delhi (Future)
  • Responsible for the member states of ASEAN
• London – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London
  • Responsible for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• New York City – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York
  • Responsible for the 31 eastern states of the USA.
• San Francisco – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco
  • Responsible for the 19 western states of the USA.
• Singapore – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore
  • Responsible for the member states of ASEAN
• Sydney – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney
  • HKETO Sydney is located in Hong Kong House, Hong Kong House also houses the office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Australasia, Invest Hong Kong and the office of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The building was built in 1891. It was designed by architect Ambrose Thornley Jnr and started its life as the Central Hotel. It has remained an important part of the Sydney Town Hall precinct. It is listed on the State Heritage Register, the Register of the National Estate and the National Trust (NSW) Register.
  • Responsible for overlooking Australia and New Zealand
• Seoul – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Seoul (Future)
• Tokyo – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Tokyo
  • Seoul – Consultant office
• Toronto – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada)
  • Vancouver – Information office
• Washington, D.C. – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Washington, D.C.

History

Prior to the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, Hong Kong's commercial interests in its major trade markets were represented by Hong Kong Government Offices – consular matters were handled by the relevant British embassy or high commission. By 1982, the Hong Kong Government Offices, with locations in London, Brussels, Washington and Geneva, were placed under the then Councils and Administration Branch (Chinese: 兩局及行政科) of the Hong Kong Government.

HKETO Brussels is the second among all HKETOs, marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.

In preparation for the handover, the British and Chinese governments agreed that these offices should be renamed "Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices", to make clear that they did not have diplomatic or consular functions. In the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 conferred a number of personal immunity and tax privileges on the HKETO in London.

Similar arrangements were negotiated with other host countries of HKETOs. For instance, the HKETO in Toronto is accredited by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Privileges and Immunities Order, and HKETO in Sydney by the Overseas Missions (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1995.

Images for kids

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  The building where Economic and Trade Office in London was formerly located.

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  Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco