Search

The Government invests heavily in the development of environmental infrastructure facilities and the setting up of various funding schemes to encourage adoption of clean technologies. In the past five years, from 2008-09 to 2012-13, the total investment on environmental infrastructural projects amounted to HK$22,467 million, while the earmarked funds for funding schemes and other initiatives amounted to HK$2,259 million. Examples of environmental infrastructure developed include the EcoPark, which is Hong Kong, China's first recycling-business park, and a state-of-the-art district cooling system at Kai Tak Development Area.

We have been pursuing policy initiatives to promote business opportunities for environmental friendly products and services. In the Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources (2013-2022) published in May 2013, we set out a series of policy measures to create a more favourable operating environment for sustainable development of the recycling and green industries in HKC. These measures include the implementation of programmes on source separation of waste, the identification of more suitable sites for leasing to the recycling industry, the development of the EcoPark, the promotion of green procurement policy amongst government departments, and the implementation of producer responsibility schemes, etc. In addition, we support the industry's participation in trade promotion activities such as environmental exhibitions and trade missions so as to build local environmental brands, explore business opportunities in the Mainland and increase collaboration with overseas enterprises.

During the period under review, HKC continued to foster the development of six economic areas identified in 2009 as having competitive advantages for further growth: testing and certification, medical services; innovation and technology; cultural and creative industries; the environmental industry; and educational services. (…)

(…) HKC is also rapidly developing a number of industries in which we enjoy distinct advantages, to further diversify HKC's economy and secure continued prosperity. They include innovation and technology, cultural and creative industries, testing and certification, environmental industries, intellectual property trading, and wine trading and distribution.

The CEP (Closer Economic Partnership) Agreement with New Zealand covers trade in services with a negative-list approach for services in modes 1 to 3, while a positive list is provided for services in mode 4. (…) HKC offered New Zealand further liberalization in distribution, education, and environmental services, which are not covered by its GATS commitments.

A negative-list approach is adopted for the commitments on trade in services; therefore, all service sectors are deemed to be liberalized except those under reservations. HKC has access to EFTA member states' markets for, inter alia, telecommunications services, financial services, business services, education services, environmental services, and testing and certification services. (…)

With regard to trade in services, a positive-list approach is adopted in the FTA with Chile. HKC gains market access to Chile's financial services, telecommunications, tourism, environmental services, and certain business services; while HKC liberalizes sectors/subsectors where Chile has priority interests, such as architectural services, engineering services, audiovisual services, and construction services.

Hong Kong, China–Chile FTA was signed on 7 September 2012 (…) Apart from trade in goods and services, the FTA contains provisions to promote competition, facilitate access to each other's government procurement market, protect intellectual property, enhance cooperation in customs procedures, and protect the environment through trade initiatives.

HKC maintains a simple tax structure, with low tax rates. Nevertheless, several tax incentives are offered, including for the purchase of environmentally friendly commercial vehicles and for IPR-related expenditures. (…)

HKC maintains a simple tax structure with a narrow base and low rates. Nevertheless, several tax incentives are offered, including for the purchase of environmentally friendly commercial vehicles and for IPR-related expenditure. Non-tax incentives, mainly to support SMEs and R&D activities, are provided in the form of loans, loan guarantees, and cash grants, but the scale of assistance is modest.