Business and Services Promotion

To render the best possible support to the business community, the
government has recently embarked on the Helping Business Programme
and the Services Promotion Programme. The Business and Services
Promotion Unit was set up in the Financial Secretary's Office in May to
co-ordinate and support the work of various parts of the government on
these two programmes. Its vision is to maintain Hong Kong as the best
place in the world for business and the region's premier services centre.

The Helping Business Programme was launched in March 1995 under the
aegis of a Task Force chaired by the Secretary for the Treasury with the
aim of making the government more business-friendly. The Task Force
successfully completed seven pilot studies in 1996-97. Action is in hand
to implement the recommendations. In December 1996, a Business
Advisory Group chaired by the Financial Secretary was formed to provide
a vital link between the business sector and the government. Its
membership comprises 11 top business executives and six senior officials.
For 1997-98, 28 study areas have been identified for cutting red tape,
assessing and reducing costs of compliance, transferring services to the
business sector where appropriate market conditions prevail, and
improving services to support the business sector. These studies will be
completed within the next financial year.

The Services Promotion Programme was launched in August 1995 also
under the aegis of a Task Force chaired by the Financial Secretary. In
March 1997 it produced its final report, covering the progress of various
action items and setting out initiatives. Following that report, the Services
Promotion Strategy Group, comprising prominent business figures,
academics and senior officials was formed in April 1997 to advise the
Financial Secretary on matters relating to the development of Hong Kong
as a service economy and as the pre-eminent services centre in Asia. For
1997-98, the group has endorsed a 10-point publicity programme and a
12-point Action Agenda which includes monitoring the 125 initiatives
outlined in the Final Report. 

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