Review
of
the HKCEA’s Major Activities
in 2005
2006
is the 15th anniversary of the Hong Kong Chinese
Enterprises Association (hereinafter briefed as the Association).
Over the past 15 years, the Association, with the support and
participation of member companies have done a lot in fostering
closer linkage with Hong Kong business community, participating
various social affairs, promoting the exchanges between Hong Kong
and the Mainland of China, safeguarding the interests of member
companies. Thanks to the above continuous commitment, the
Association has successfully shored up its social influence, and
become one of the most famous chamber of commerce in Hong Kong.
BUSINESS
AFFAIRS
Strenthening communication with
the HKSAR Government
After Hong Kong’s handover to
China, the Association and its member companies support the HKSARG
to govern Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and the
principle of One Country Two Systems. Over the years, a mechanism
has come into being that the Chief Executive of the HKSAR and the
Office Bearers of the Association have two formal appointments a
year. The Honourable Tung Chee Hwa, former Chief Executive, and
Chief Executive the Honourable Donald Tseng, attend important events
held by the Association very often. During the appointment, the two
sides lively exchange views on economic affairs of Hong Kong and how
to sharpen Hong Kong competitiveness.
From
time the time, the Association’s Office Bearers, meet and exchange
views with Secretary of Administration, Secretary of Finance,
Secretary of Justice and other principal officials of the HKSARG, as
well as heads of the Monetary Authority, Commission on Securities
and Futures Supervision, the Productivity Council, the Hong Kong
Exhanges and other public agencies.
The Association has commited to
take an active part in the economic affairs of Hong Kong and the
consultative hirarchy of the HKSARG, such as the Economic and
Employment Committee, Strategic Development Committees, Greater
Pearl Delta Business Committee, the Airport Authority, etc. With the
aim to revitalizing Hong Kong Economy, the Association have made a
lot of suggestion and proposals on repositioning Hong Kong economy,
public financing, improving the business environment, etc.
The Association have formed
excellent cooperative relations with the Indepent Council of
Anticorruption of Hong Kong. Over the years, the two sides have
joined efforts in helping employees of member companies to reinforce
the norm of holding back from corruption and to follow the
legitimate business ethnics. And as one of the members of the Hong
Kong Ethnics Development Consultative Committee (ICAC), the
Association, in collaboration with other organs, has spared no
efforts in helping maintain the equal and clean business environment
of Hong Kong.To this end, the Association has participated in many
events sponsored by ICAC, such as Leaders Forum 2005 -----
Intergrity Ensuring Excellent Governance, Seminar on Integrity and
Corporate Governance Between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and so
forth.
The Association and its member
companies continually actively respond to various policy and legal
consultation papers, such as abolishment of the inheretage tax,
amending Company Ordinance (Amendment), enforcing each other’s civil
judicial decisions between Hong Kong and the Mainland, etc. The
active participation enables the HKSARG to consider the views and
interests of the Association’s member companies, during making its
policy options.
The Association has always been
keeping a keen eye on the governance of the HKSARG. Over the years,
a few conversaziones and seminars have been held to discuss the
Accountability System of the Principal Officials and the Policy
Address of the SARG. In addition, the Association puts forward some
suggestion for policy improvement. In 2003, for instance, the
Association wrote to related department of the SARG and asked them
to overhaul the rules of construction projects biding system in
order for a healthy competition in the building industry.
Enhancing linkages with Hong Kong
Business Community
The Association has been actively
enhancing linkages with Hong Kong business circle, and has built up
good cooperative relations with main business organizations,
professional bodies and medias. And over 60 large-scale conventions,
seminars, symposiums and fairs have been co-organized over the
years. And the Association has also established close partnership
with principal chambers of commerce in Hong Kong, and many
influential business events have been co-sponsored with joined
efforts. On every 1st July and 1st October,
for instance, the chambers co-sponsor receptions to celebrate Hong
Kong’s return to the Motherland and the National Day. They also
jointly organize captioned luncheons, dinner parties, seminars,
etc., with the focus on hot topics with common concern in business
community. This allows members from different chambers of commerce
to exchange information and explore business opportunities.
In 2005, the Association
participated in the Programme of One Factory One Environmentally
Friendly Project a Year to promote environment protection among
enterprises based on the Pearl Delta. It also organized member
representatives to attend a large luncheon held during the 38th
annual conference of the Pacific Basin Economic Council. And the
Association also took part in quite a few important business events,
including SMEs International Market Day, New Techs and Designs Fair.
And Mr. Shen Liantao, chairman of Securities and Futures Supervision
Commission, was invited to speak at the conference of directors of
the Association to speak on corporate governance of listed companies
and corporate finance by Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong.
Exchanges
with Representative Organizations of Foreign Government, and Foreign
Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong
The Association has forged broad
linkages with representative organizations of foreign government and
foreign chambers of commerce in Hong Kong, and has joined hands with
the consulates-general in co-organizing seminars and project
promotion activities, with the aim to let member companies to have
more understanding about the market and business environment of
related countries. In collaboration with the French Federation of
Industries and Commerce in Hong Kong, the Dutch Business Association
in Hong Kong, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the
British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong individually, the
Association has organized some liaison parties, and seminars on hot
issues with shared strong interests, such as deregulation of China
Mainland insurance sector, reform and development updates of China
Mainland banking sector, outlook of China telecommunication and IT
technological industry, etc.
In 2005, the Association held a
liaison reception with the French Federation of Industries and
Commerce, and co-sponsored an evening briefing “London --- the Key
to Global Financing” with the British Consulate General in Hong Kong
and London Exchanges. During the year, the Association also
increased contacts with some other foreign government representative
organizations, business and commercial associations and professional
bodies, such as Japan External Trade Organizaiton, Queensland-China
Council, Denmark Consulate General in Hong Kong, and American
Association of Financial Professionals, etc.
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Promoting the Basic Law
As a chamber of commerce with
strong commitment to the nation and Hong Kong, the Association keeps
a keen eye on the political issues in connection with national
sovereignty, stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, such a enactment
on Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR of PRC, supporting the
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in interpreting
the Basic Law and exercise a leading authority in developing future
constitutional system for the HKSAR. And to promote the Basic Law
among the employees of Chinese enterprises, the Association, over
the past few years, has organized several large-scale talk and
seminars on the law. And high-ranking officials from the Liaison
Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, and the
government of the HKSAR and specialists were invited to address the
legal principles.
Active Participating in
Anti-SARS Activities
In the Spring of 2003, an
unexpected infectious disease of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS) almost melted Hong Kong down. In order to encourage Hong Kong
people to fight against the disease and get the economy back on
track, the Association joined hands with other six organizations
initiating “Full Mobilization Against SARS” and “Hong Kong is My
Home – Supporting Medical Workers of the Forefront Fighting Against
SARS” Fund Raising Activities. The participating organizations held
a rally with 5,000 people at the Victoria Park on 4 May aiming to
mobilizing and unifying people’s courage, and later set up over 140
stations across the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territory to
mobilize donations for the medical workers of the forefront of the
fight against the epidemic. Besides, China Art Troupe of the Disable
was invited to give two performances in honour of the front-line
medical workers and the Anti-SARS Volunteers. The Association and a
lot of staff of Chinese enterprises actively participated in the
serials activities.
Supporting Social Charity
Affairs
The Association and member
companies, always with a strong social consciousness, have been
continuously devoted to social charity undertakings and social
welfare. Over the past years, they actively have take part in the
various donation mobilizing events, such as “Hong Kong and Kowloon
Walk for Millions”,
“Community for the Chest”, “Four Seas Dance for the Chest”,
organized by the Community Chest, and also charitable sales and
donation to help the disadvantaged women and children, donation for
establishing the Home of
Hong Kong
Anti-Japanese Invasion
Fighters,
donations to the “Lifeline Express” to help poor
cataract
patients in China Mainland rural
areas.
In the respect of education, among others, the Association and its
member companies have made remarkable donations to educational
development programmes in Mainland of China,
“Project
Hope”,
“Spring Bud Plan”,
“Sowers Action”, etc.
Organizing Large Scale Celebration
Events
The Association organizes
large-scale mass events every year in commemoration or celebration
of Hong Kong’s return to her motherland and National Day of PRC.
These events, co-organized with other social organizations, include
comprehensive
artistic shows, Carnivals in memory of Hong Kong’s return to her
motherland, grand
joyful parades and evening parties on the National Days. The events
and functions attracted thousands of visitors to join and had a very
wide and active social influence.
At the very beginning of 2005, the
Association, in joined efforts with a dozen of influential social
organizations, held “Walk Hand-in-hand to a Brighter Future”, and
participated in the “Four Seas Full of Love” Charity Mobilization
for Tsunamis Affected People in South Asia, organized by the HKSARG.
Just in one month, the Association and member companies donated more
than 13 million dollars.
After the Honourable Tung Chee
Hwa, the former Chief Executive of the HKSAR, was elected as Vice
Chairman of National Committee, Chinese People’s Political
Consultative Conference, the Association joined hands with 23 other
social organizations in holding a grand evening party to dignify his
contribution to practicing the “One Coutry, Two System” principle.
And over 400 organizations across Hong Kong joined the event as
co-organizers.
On 1 July 2005, the Association
and other 18 organizations initiated a grand parade in celebration
the 8th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to her
motherland. And over 800 societies across joined the function. On
the National Day, the Association jointly sponsored an evening party
with Home Affairs Depart and Leisure and Cultural Services
Department of the HKSARG in
celebration of the 53rd anniversary of
the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Commemorating the Victory of
Anti-Japanese Invasion
2005 was the 60th
anniversary of the victory of Chinese people in anti-Japanese
invasion. To help staff of member companies to enrich their
understanding of the history of both the motherland and Hong Kong,
as well as the great national spirit embodied in the history, the
Association organized a series of commemorating events, including
“Under the Same Sky” large-scale music show, “On Mountain Tai Hang”
film reception and a tour to Sai Kung Memorial in Memory of the
Anti-Japanese Heroes. Besides, the Association also actively
involved in several parties, luncheons and exhibitions with the
theme of commemorating the victory of Chinese people in the
anti-Japanese war co-organized with some other societies.
EXCHANGES
BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND HONG KONG
Promoting Economic Exchanges
and Cooperation
The Association, from the very
beginning, has taken its special advantage to bridge the needs of
business communities of Hong Kong and those of the Mainland, and
devoted to facilitating the economic cooperation across the borders.
Over the years, the Association has received over 500 business
missions from the Mainland of China, and successfully co-organized
or took part in hundreds of trade fairs, commodity exhibitions and
symposiums, etc., held in Hong Kong by individual provinces,
autonomous regions and municipal cities of the Mainland China. In
this course, the Association have contributed a lot, including
giving advice to how to better the effect of the business
activities, and helping promote the business events among member
companies and foreign chambers of commerce. In 2005, for instance,
the Association received more than 30 delegations from the Mainland
and co-organized 65 trade fairs and investment symposiums held by 15
provinces of Mainland China.
To increase communication with
individual department of the central government, the Association
organized delegations to Beijing. The missions paid visits to
ministers of individual department of the State Council, to get the
first-hand information on economic policy updates and request them
to help resolve the difficulties encountered by member companies in
their business operation on the Mainland of China. In every visit,
the missions had the chance to meet up and talk to China national
leaders.
In order to help member companies
and business communities of Hong Kong to know more about updates of
the economic reform and development on the Mainland, the
Association, over the years, held captioned seminars, luncheons,
etc., and officials from various department of the central
government and experts were invited to speak bout the economic
situation, policies, newly-enacted rules and regulation in economic
regime of the Mainland.
The Association has also organized
dozens of delegations to the Mainland to explore business
opportunities to promote inbound investment in some regions.
Aligning with the national strategies
of “Exploring the West”, “Rise of Central China”, “Revitalizing
China Northeast” for instance, the Association dispatched a few
missions to China western provinces, such as Sichuan, Gansu, Shanxi,
Jiangxi, Hunan, Henan, Liaoning, Jilin and Helongjiang, etc., to
assess the local business environment and investment potential.
In 2005, eight delegations were
sent to the Mainland to attend regional fairs and symposiums. Among
these were the 13th China Lanzhou Investment & Trade
Fair, Northeast Asian Investment & Trade Fair,
Taihu Fair, Hainan Provincial
Highlighted Industries Promotion Fair, the 2nd Pan-PRD
Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair, the 9th
China International Fair for Investment and Trade. After the fairs,
the delegates paid visits to the cities in vicinity to examine local
market.
On the other hand, the Association
has actively joined hands with the investment promotions by the
HKSARG, and helped InvestHK to promote the good business environment
of Hong Kong to the Mainland firms. To this end, the sides
co-sponsored several receptions and seminars, to make China Mainland
firms know more about Hong Kong and particularly the potential
business chances for Chinese enterprises. And in 2005, the
Association recommended 8 entrepreneurs of member companies to
InvestHK as Investment Promotion Ambassadors.
Supporting Exchanges in Other
Areas
The Association takes an active
attitude in supporting cultural, technological and sporting
exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Over the years,
it invited the Chinese Champions of Olympic Games to visit Hong
Kong, and organized staff of Chinese enterprises to take part in the
volunteer service in the National Games. During Beijing bidding for
the Olympic Games of 2008, the Association, held a serial events to
promote the awareness of Hong Kong people, which included “Walking
Around the Victoria Peak in Supporting Beijing to Bid for the
Olympic Games”, “Living in Hong Kong, Inspiring Enthusiasm in
All---Supporting Beijng to Bid for the Olympic Games” and also a
grand banquet in celebration of Beijing’s success in biding for the
Olympic Games.
When the whole Chinese world was
overwhelmed in the great joy brought about by the successful flight
of the Shenzhou 5th and 6th Manned Space
Mission, in October 2003, the Association co-organized large-scale
celebrating parade and arts show as well as a grand joint evening
party to welcome the China’s first astronaut Mr. Yang Liwei and the
5th Manned Space Mission Delegation. In 2005, during the
visit to Hong Kong by the 6th Manned Space Mission
Delegation, the Association co-sponsored a luncheon with other
principal chambers of commerce to pay the respect to their efforts
and achievements.
To bolster cooperation in
technological development between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the
Association and the Hong Kong Association of Advancement of Science
and Technology jointly organized “Enterprises Development and
Cooperation Conversazione”, and joined a delegation composed of
pioneers of HK technological circle to visit Beijing and Tianjin in
2004.
SERVING
MEMBER COMPANIES
Business
Promotion Service
In the recent years, a serial of
measures were taken to reinforce the linkages between member
companies so as to spark the chances for them to cooperate more in
business. In addition, the Association has engaged in developing the
internal business information network to better bridge up the needs
and demand among member companies. And it has also taken chances of
co-organizing large business events to help promote business
projects for member companies, and market the favourable services,
such as tourism and insurance policies.
Training Services for Member
Companies
Since its establishment, the
Association continuously organize a variety of training services for
member companies, including talks, seminars and workshops, usually
with focus on economic and market hot topics of different time
covering economic policies and situation, corporate financing and
governance, investment strategies, crisis management, M&A, taxation
and financial management, etc. And the attendees have been up to 10
thousand in total. Dozens of captioned training programmes in
business management, financial management and law have also been
held and joined by hundreds of executives from member companies. In
the recent years, the Association, with other main business
chambers, jointly held several seminars on Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), to help member companies to fully
capitalize the Mainland market with the help of CEPA.
In 2005, the Association sponsored
quite a few talks focusing on RMB exchange rate mechanism reform,
Reits, real property market outlook, avian flu, with which the
business community had a serious concern. And a seminar on legal
framework and practice of merger and acquisition was also held to
meet up the demand of member companies.
Information Service
By organizing member companies to
join various seminars, policy addresses, projects promotion fairs,
the Association creates chances for member companies to collect
market information. On the other hand, the Association renders
consultative service to help resolve problems with which member
companies have encountered in business operation. In addition, the
Association collects and releases a variety of information on
economy, policy and market updates by newsletter and other means.
Helping Exploring Overseas
Market
To help member companies to
capitalize overseas market, the Association organizes delegations to
different countries and regions every year. Besides attending each
World Chinese
Merchants Conference (WCMC), over the years, the
Association’s missions have visited South Africa, Canada, the United
States, Russia, Middle East, North Africa, South Europe, Latin
America, Australia, etc. In 2005, the Association’s Mission joined
the 10th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair
and the 8th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference
(WCEC), and paid business visits respectively Republic of Korea,
Japan, Spain and Portugal. Through the visit, the delegates had a
better understanding about local business environment and market
potential of the countries.
Leisure and Sporting Activities
and Tours
To promote exchanges and unity
between member companies and enrich the cultural life of their
staff, the Association organizes a variety of recreation, sporting
and artistic activities, such as football, basketball, table tennis,
swimming matches, sponsors
Kahrah OK,
photography, calligraphy and painting contests as well as
comprehensive artistic shows, dancing parties and carnivals. And Joy
Sharing Day of Chinese Agencies, the Association’s Sports Day and
Artistic Show are the favorites of the staff of Chinese Enterprises.
In addition, the Association also sponsors tours to the Mainland,
visit
to the barracks
of the PLA Hong Kong Forces
and attending
the
parade
ceremony
of the PLA Hong Kong Force,
etc.
In 2005, the Association organized
bridge cards
contest, and sponsored the 2nd artistic show and
Kahrah OK
Sing Contest in celebration of the 8th anniversary of
Hong Kong’s return to her motherland, from which some art talents
were picked up among member companies.
Reshape the Image of Chinese
Enterprises
Over the recent years, the
Association’s launched several press campaigns in partnership with
some Hong Kong media, to propagate the reform and development
accomplished by Chinese enterprises and to showcase their new image
of fast and health growth, strong social consciousness and unity.
These campaigns have effectively made the society know more about
the updates of the Chinese enterprises as well as their outstanding
contribution to prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
THE
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE OF SUB-COMMITTEES
Sector Committees and
Professional Committees
Over the years, the Association’s
Sector Committees held gatherings and other activities from time to
time to exchange information on the updates of relevant sectors, to
bolster development of member companies.
The Committee on Building Industry
forms the mechanism of monthly member gathering, and publishes
newsletter and holds annual workshop on HK’s building market.
Besides, it organizes business tours and stays in close contact with
some other principal professional bodies in Hong Kong.
In the year 2005, the
sub-committee held a workshop with Hong Kong Federation of Building
Industry and another workshop in Xi’an to share views and
observations among members about Hong Kong construction market and
retune development strategies.
The Financial and Accounting
Affairs Steering Committee spares no effort in helping financial and
accounting executives keep abreast of the updates of professional
development and organizing many talks, workshops and training
programmes designed to meet the demand of members. It also publishes
magazines and sponsors get-togethers for financial and accounting
executives of member companies, while keeping in close cooperation
with other influential professional bodies and academic circle.
The professional sub-committee, in
2005, participated in the drawing-up of Hong Kong SME Financial
Reporting Framework and Standards, and co-organized some luncheons
and seminars on Corporate Finance and Overseas Listing, HKIFRS and
cross-borders financial control. It also sponsored a few talks and
training programmes for financial and accounting executives of
member companies.
Committee on Transportation
continually takes the lead in organizing the National Day Reception
by Hong Kong Transportation Industry, co-organizes New Year Parties
of Transportation Industry and plays an active role in the circle.
Committee on Insurance, Committee
on Securities, Committee on Finance, Committee on Advertising,
Publishing & Consultancy and Committee on Tourism hold members’
gatherings and other kind of activities from time to time to
exchange business information and discuss cooperation in their
respective sectors. They also have talks on hot topics for members.
The Fraternity of the Mainland Window Companies is active in
organizing various exchanges among member companies, and bolstering
cooperation in business.
Women Committee
In 2004, the Association set up
the Fraternity of Female Executives, which played an active role in
taking part in the preparatory work of celebrating receptions HK
women in business community on every 8th March and
National Day. The fraternity also joined hands in organizing the
Forum on Women and Economic Development, and did a lot in reinforce
the linkages with women in HK business community.
In September 2005, the Association
established Women Committee based on the fraternity, and held a
grand opening reception, which was attended by over 200 guests,
including Ms Guo Li, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the
Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, female officials of the
HKSARG, female members of the HK Legislative Council,
representatives of female organizations and other outstanding female
entrepreneurs. After starting-up, Women Committee co-sponsored a
liaison evening party with the Federation of Female Professionals
and Entrepreneurs of Hong Kong, and also held exchanges with other
women organizations.
Youth Committee and Recreation
& Sports Committee
The Association’s Youth Committee
has been devoted to promote exchanges, learning and social
consciousness among young staff of member companies, and to
cooperate with HK youth societies. Over the years, the committee has
held a variety of integrity promotion events in collaboration with
ICAC to reinforce their norm of acting cleanly in work. It has also
forged broad cooperative relations with many famous youth societies,
and co-organized with them some delegations and tours to the
Mainland as well as talent training programmes and recreation
activities to meet the needs of young staff of member companies.
Recreation & Sports Committee has
shouldered the practical preparatory and coordinating work for large
events held in name of the Association, and played an irreplaceable
role within the sphere of the Association.
During work, the two committees
have formed strong partnership and jointly held a lot of meaningful
activities, such as the tours to the Headquarters of HK Marine
Police Force, the PLA navy base in Hong Kong, etc.
In 2005, the Youth Committee
started up a periodical exchange mechanism by coorganizing the New
Year Liaison Party of Young Executives of Business Community, and
cosponsored a table-tennis contest and the Colourful Hong Kong
Digital Photography Contest with some college student unions. It
also participated in such the activities as mobilizing volunteers
for the 10th National Games, helping youth society to
know more about motherland.
The past 15 years saw the
Association making progress together with Hong Kong, and also
witnessed the Association and its member companies contributing to
Hong Kong’s prosperity and modernization of their motherland. And
the past 5 years were the time the Association enjoying increasing
social influence. In the time to come, the Association will engage
strengthening its functions, particularly in serving member
companies, and endeavours more closely with other societies to bring
Hong Kong to even brighter future.
