The Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) is the Government information and advisory centre for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) run by the Trade and Industry Department. If you are looking for free business information and practical consultation services, SUCCESS is the first stop to meet your needs.

This Expo is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). As one of the supporting organisations and a major exhibitor, the Trade and Industry Department (TID) will showcase the Department’s work and support services to SMEs, including SUCCESS; SME Funding Schemes; Hong Kong Awards for Industries; Working Group on Industrial, Commercial and Professional Sectors under the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee; Brand Development and Promotion; Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales; the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement; and Free Trade Agreements with Foreign Economies. The opening hours and location of TID’s booth are:

• Opening Hours: 6 - 7 December, 9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; and 8 December, 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• Booth Location: 1EE01, Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

SUCCESS' advisors will provide free onsite one-on-one consultation on business start-up, marketing, legal and accounting matters for SMEs. Please click here to register for the service. For enquiries, please call 2398 5133.

TID and HKTDC will jointly organise a high-level conference entitled "Hong Kong Ideas, Mainland Opportunities" on 6 December, 1:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Entrepreneurs of well-known Hong Kong brands will share with SMEs their creative branding strategies, practical experiences and tips on tapping into the Mainland market. Interactive media experts will introduce various brand promotion channels in social and mobile media. Please click here for details and online registration. (This conference will be conducted in Cantonese and English with simultaneous English and Putonghua interpretation)

In addition, TID's representatives will speak on the support services for SMEs at three seminars organised by HKTDC. Details are as follows:

Seminar Topic	TID's Presentation Title	Date and Time
Business Outlook and Opportunities in South American Markets	SME Export Marketing Fund	6 December, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (This seminar will be conducted in English with simultaneous Putonghua interpretation)
Practical Tips for Hong Kong SME Operation	SME Loan Guarantee Scheme	7 December, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese)
Sustaining and Reinventing Your Business	SUCCESS' Services for Business Start-up	7 December, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese)

This seminar is co-organised by SUCCESS, the Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Development Association and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The seminar will explore the business opportunities in Mainland China through brand building. The guest speakers will also share their views on how enterprises can increase cash flow and reduce the risk of bad debts by enhancing their accounts receivable management skills so as to facilitate their brand development. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese)

This seminar is organised by the Hong Kong Association of International Co-operation of Small & Medium Enterprises, implemented by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and sponsored by the SME Development Fund of the Trade and Industry Department. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations. The seminar will introduce the current domestic sales market in Southwest China and explore the impact of ASEAN on the economic development of the region. The guest speakers will also share their experience in utilising the local natural resources for production and in conducting business in Southwest China. (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese)

"The 3rd Hong Kong Corporate Citizenship Program - Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility”

(10 December, 2012 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre)

This workshop is co-organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations. The workshop will invite experts and past winners of the Hong Kong Citizenship Award to provide an overview of the latest CSR international practices and implementation strategies. The guest speakers will also share on the relevant cases. (This workshop will be conducted in Cantonese)

More Details (in Chinese)

Conference on "Brand Development and Domestic Sales”

(19 December, 2012 at Hong Kong Productivity Council)

This conference is organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations. The conference will provide information and advice on brand management and development. It will also introduce the strategies for enterprises to build their brands and corporate images, and to extend the channels for communication and domestic sales so as to enhance their competitive edge. (This workshop will be conducted in Cantonese)

More Details (in Chinese)

Topical Issues

Video Show of SME Seminars

Interested persons are welcome to visit SUCCESS to view the videos of previous SME seminars. The broadcast schedule between 29 November and 12 December 2012 is as follows:

Title of Seminar Day of Broadcast Broadcast Time

"Effective Brand Building Through Promotional Videos and TV Commercials"
Mon, Wed and Fri 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon;
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (replay); and
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (replay)

"Brand Building Through Co-marketing : A Win-Win Solution for SMEs"
Tue and Thu 11:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.; and
2:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (replay)

Apart from the above public broadcast, interested persons are welcome to visit the SUCCESS Reference Library to view the videos of past seminars.

For enquiries, please call 2398 5133.

The Hong Kong ICT Awards 2013, supported by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong Productivity Council and Hong Kong Trade Development Council, are now open for applications. The Awards aim to recognise, promote and commend the excellent achievements made by Hong Kong ICT professionals and organisations. The Awards comprise ten categories, including Best Business Award, Best Collaboration Award, Best Digital Entertainment Award, Best Digital Inclusion Award, Best Green ICT Award, Best Innovation & Research Award, Best Lifestyle Award, Best Mobile Apps Award, Best Public Service Application Award, and Best SME ICT Award. Application will close on 11 January 2013.

Business News

GDETO Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) Newsletter has been published.

More Details (in Chinese)

Commercial Information Circulars (CICs) of the Mainland

The Trade and Industry Department issued a number of Commercial Information Circulars (CICs) on the Mainland's trade and economic rules and regulations between 12 and 23 November 2012 for traders' reference, including:

Notice Concerning Filing of Tax Return for Value-added Tax in relation to the Pilot Policy on Changing the Levy of Business Tax to Value-added Tax in Guangdong Province (CIC No. 927/2012);
Notice Concerning Implementation of "Transitional Financial Support Policies in relation to the Pilot Policy on Changing the Levy of Business Tax to Value-added Tax in Shenzhen Municipality" (CIC No. 928/2012);
Public Consultation of the "Draft Regulations on Service Invention (Consultation Draft)" (CIC No. 938/2012);
"Opinions on Further Promoting Port Clearance Facilitation and Port Clearance Environment Optimisation" of Dongguan (CIC No. 939/2012);
Notice on Further Promoting the Task of Trade Facilitation (CIC No. 940/2012);
Postal Law of the People's Republic of China (CIC No. 946/2012);
Notice on Promulgation of Four National Standards of Discharging Pollutants including "Discharge Standards of Water Pollutants for Dyeing and Finishing of Textile Industry" (CIC No. 949/2012);
Public Consultation on the "Measures on Maternity Insurance (Consultation Draft)" (CIC No. 950/2012);
Notice Concerning Issues on Consumption Tax Policy (CIC No. 952/2012);
Notice Concerning Issues on Implementation of Differential Personal Income Tax Policy in relation to the Dividend Bonus Gained from Shares of Listed Companies (CIC No. 953/2012);
Interim Measures on the Administration of Special Fund for the Development of Private Enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises in Shenzhen Municipality (CIC No. 955/2012);
Notice Concerning Public Consultation on Proposed Creation of National Food Safety Standard Items in 2013 (CIC No. 956/2012);
"12th Five-year Plan on the Development of Key Industries in the Advanced Manufacturing Industry of the Guangdong Province" (CIC No. 960/2012);
Notice on Further Improving and Adjusting the Administrative Policy on Foreign Exchange Involving Direct Investment of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (CIC No. 969/2012);
Public Consultation on "Administrative Measures on Occupational Health Inspection (Consultation Draft)" of the Ministry of Health (CIC No. 970/2012);
Public Consultation on "Measures on the Implementation of the 'Regulations on Employment Injury Insurance' of the Jiangxi Province (Revised Draft for Consultation)" (CIC No. 971/2012); and
"Certain Provisions on Further Deepening the Commerce Registration System Reform and Enhancing Market Supervision System" of Dongguan (CIC No. 973/2012).

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