Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office

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Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
HKETO-London.JPG
Traditional Chinese 香港經濟貿易辦事處
Simplified Chinese 香港经济贸易办事处

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) (Chinese: 香港經濟貿易辦事處) are the representations of Hong Kong outside the territory. There are currently 11 HKETOs overseas, seven missions in China (four offices and three liaison units), and one in Taiwan.

In addition to HKETOs, the Hong Kong Government has an office in Beijing, the capital of China (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 territory provides that it shall be a separate customs territory and may, using the designation 'Hong Kong, China', participate in relevant international organisations and international trade agreements, such as the World Trade Organization.

The HKETOs concentrate most[weasel words] 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.
  • Organising events to promote Hong Kong's image
  • Regularly meeting with counterparts and contacts in the territories under their purview
  • Organising 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.[citation needed] Visa applications at these missions are, nevertheless, sent to and processed by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. Immigration officers are stationed in some of the ETOs.

Organisation

Overseas HKETOs were placed under the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Government. Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing, as well as ETOs in other parts of China and in Taiwan are placed under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. The head of the HKETOs are usually[how?] 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, Canada, Australia and Germany) had granted certain privileges and immunities to the HKETOs through dedicated domestic legislations (see the section below on history).

At present, all 11 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.[1]

HKETO Berlin is the only regional representative office in Germany that has a quasi-diplomatic status.[2][clarification needed]

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 China, particularly those in Europe and Asia, have responsibilities for several countries.[3][4] Those in the mainland similarly have responsibilities across several provinces.[5] The ETO in Sydney likewise oversee Hong Kong's relations with New Zealand, and the ETO in Washington, D.C. with Latin America.[6][7][8]

Overseas

HKETO Washington, D.C. at 1520 18th St NW, Dupont Circle
HKETO Toronto at 174 St George Street
HKETO San Francisco at 130 Montgomery Street
HKETO San Francisco

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. HKETO Sydney is located in Hong Kong House,[22] 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.[23]

China

  • Chengdu – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu[30]
  • Guangzhou – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong[31]
  • Shanghai – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai[32]
  • Wuhan – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan

Taiwan

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.[34][35]

HKETO Brussels is the second among all HKETOs, marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.[36]

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.[citation needed] In the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996[37] 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,[38] and HKETO in Sydney by the Overseas Missions (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1995.[39]

See also

References

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External links

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ http://www2.china.ahk.de/download/pub/hk/hk_GCcomm201105_03special.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.hongkong-eu.org//en/about_us/role.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.hketolondon.gov.hk/about/respon.htm
  5. ↑ Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong
  6. ↑ http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201204/15/P201204140405.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201204/14/P201204140158.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.scmp.com/article/999225/tsang-exceeds-limit-excursion-brazil
  9. ↑ [2]
  10. ↑ [3]
  11. ↑ [4]
  12. ↑ [5]
  13. ↑ [6]
  14. ↑ [7]
  15. ↑ [8]
  16. ↑ [9]
  17. ↑ [10]
  18. ↑ [11]
  19. ↑ [12]
  20. ↑ [13]
  21. ↑ [14]
  22. ↑ http://www.hketosydney.gov.hk/hkhouse.php
  23. ↑ [15]
  24. ↑ [16]
  25. ↑ [17]
  26. ↑ [18]
  27. ↑ [19]
  28. ↑ [20]
  29. ↑ [21]
  30. ↑ [22]
  31. ↑ [23]
  32. ↑ [24]
  33. ↑ HK's Taiwan trade office opens
  34. ↑ Official report of proceedings, 16 June 1982, Legislative Council
  35. ↑ Official report of proceedings, 11 November 1982, Legislative Council
  36. ↑ [25]
  37. ↑ The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996
  38. ↑ Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Privileges and Immunities Order
  39. ↑ Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Privileges and Immunities) Regulations 1996
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