The Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch is responsible for the conduct of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s external commercial relations.

The HKSAR has full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations. The Basic Law of the HKSAR 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 (WTO).

The multilateral rule-based trading system under the WTO has been highly successful in fostering the growth of international trade and investment in general to the benefit of all Members of the WTO. The system has been particularly important for small economies like Hong Kong. The basic principle of non-discrimination guarantees WTO Members equal rights under the rules, independent of their political weight.

We adopt a similarly active profile in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which seeks free and open trade and investment by 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for developing economies.

In view of the close trade and economic relations between the Mainland (our largest trading partner since 1985) and Hong Kong, we maintain close and active liaison with the Mainland authorities. The two sides signed in June 2003 the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. It enhanced the cooperation on trade and investment between the two places. The Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing, the Economic and Trade Offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu, the Trade and Industry Department and Hong Kong Trade Development Council keep track of changes in Mainland commercial and trade laws and regulations. The eleven offices of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in the Mainland provide Hong Kong businessmen operating there with information and referral services.

We also have eleven overseas Economic and Trade Offices which seek to promote Hong Kong's economic and trade interests by enhancing understanding of Hong Kong among opinion-formers; closely monitoring developments that might affect Hong Kong's economic and trading interests, and liaising closely with the business and commercial sectors, politicians and the news media. They also regularly organise events to promote Hong Kong's image. The work of the eleven offices is described as follows :

The Geneva Office represents Hong Kong, as a Member of the WTO. It also represents Hong Kong as an observer on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Trade Committee in Paris.

The Brussels Office takes up a leading role in representing Hong Kong on matters relating to the economic and trade interests of Hong Kong in Europe. It represents Hong Kong's economic and trade interests to the European Communities, and promotes Hong Kong's trade and commercial interests in fifteen European countries in Central and Southern Europe as well as Germany and Austria.

The London Office represents and promotes Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in nine European countries including the U.K., Russia, the Nordic and Baltic countries. It also houses Hong Kong's representative to the International Maritime Organization.

The Berlin Office is responsible for fostering the economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Germany as well as seven other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Offices in Toronto,Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney closely monitor economic and trade developments, legislation and other matters in their host countries which may affect Hong Kong's trade and economic interests. The Singapore Office also looks after Hong Kong's commercial relations with the member states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and serves as a direct point of contact with the Secretariats of APEC and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) located in Singapore. The Sydney Office is also responsible for promoting Hong Kong's economic and trade interests in New Zealand.

The Offices in Washington DC , New York and San Francisco look after Hong Kong's economic, commercial and public relations interests in the USA. The Washington Office represents Hong Kong's interests to the relevant agencies and departments of the US Government, as well as to the US Senate and Congress. The New York and San Francisco Offices are our respective East and West Coast arms.