Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) are the trade offices of Hong Kong outside the territory. There are 12 HKETOs outside the Greater China Region, and eight in the Greater China Region (one in Taiwan, four offices and three liaison units in Mainland China).

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
Jyutpinghoeng1 gong2 ging1 zai3 mau6 yik6 baan6 si6 cyu3

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.
  • Organise 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 Organization, HKETO Brussels to the European Union, and HKETO Geneva to the World Trade Organization.

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[1] 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.[2]

HKETO Berlin is the only regional representative office in Germany that has a quasi-diplomatic status.[3]

Locations
  Countries hosting one or more offices
██ Bangkok office and covered countries
██ Berlin office and covered countries
██ Brussels office and covered countries
██ Jakarta office and covered countries
██ London office and covered countries
██ Singapore office and covered countries
██ Sydney office and covered countries

The HKETOs outside the Mainland China Region, particularly those in Europe and Asia, have responsibilities for several countries.[4][5] Those in the mainland similarly have responsibilities across several provinces.[6]

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.
  • Bangkok – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Bangkok
    • Responsible for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand.[7].
  • Berlin – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin
    • Responsible for Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.[8]
  • Brussels – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels[9]
    • 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.[10]
  • Chengdu – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu
  • 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.
  • Guangzhou – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong
  • Shanghai – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai
  • Jakarta – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta
    • Responsible for the ASEAN and covering also the relations with Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines.
  • London – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London
    • Responsible for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.[11]
  • 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[12]
    • Responsible for the 19 western states of the USA.[13]
  • Singapore – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Singapore
    • Responsible for Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam[14]
  • Sydney – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (located in Hong Kong House)
    • Responsible for overlooking Australia and New Zealand
  • Taipei – Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office[15]
  • Tokyo – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Tokyo
  • Toronto – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Toronto
  • Washington, D.C. – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Washington, D.C.
  • Wuhan – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan

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.[16][17]

HKETO Brussels is the second among all HKETOs, marking its 50th anniversary in 2015.[18]

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[19] 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,[20] and HKETO in Sydney by the Overseas Missions (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1995.[21]

See also

References
  1. Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Privileges and Immunities) Regulations 1996 No. 334
  2. LCQ14: Privileges and immunities granted to Hong Kong ETOs, Government Information Centre, November 24, 2010
  3. Official Opening Ceremony of the HKETO, Berlin,
  4. http://www.hongkong-eu.org//en/about_us/role.htm
  5. http://www.hketolondon.gov.hk/about/respon.htm
  6. Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong
  7. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201902/28/P2019022800972.htm
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. HK's Taiwan trade office opens
  16. Official report of proceedings, 16 June 1982, Legislative Council
  17. Official report of proceedings, 11 November 1982, Legislative Council
  19. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996
  20. Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Privileges and Immunities Order
  21. Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Privileges and Immunities) Regulations 1996
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