Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs
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SUCCESS
E-newsletter
29 June 2022

What's New
Topical Issues
Business News

The Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) is an information and advisory centre for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) run by the Trade and Industry Department (TID).  If you are looking for free business information and practical consultation services, please visit SUCCESS.

Our Website's address is www.success.tid.gov.hk.

Our customer hotline is : (852) 2398 5133.

More Details
 

What's New

Event Calendar of the SME Centres

To enhance the integrated services of the four existing SME Centres, including the SUCCESS under the Trade and Industry Department, the "SME Centre" under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the "SME One" under the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the "TecONE" under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, SUCCESS has launched an "Event Calendar of the SME Centres" on its website.  The Event Calendar facilitates enterprises to obtain information on seminars/workshops/activities organised by the four SME Centres from a single platform, and also provides links to the relevant event web pages to facilitate registration.

Please click here to browse the Event Calendar of the SME Centres.
 

SUCCESS Activities

The counter service of SUCCESS has been resumed.  Meanwhile, webinars, Customer Hotline (Tel.: (852) 2398 5133) and Email Enquiry (success@tid.gov.hk) continue to be operated as usual.  On the other hand, in order to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the community, SUCCESS has suspended "Video Show of SME Seminars" for the public until further notice.

SUCCESS Seminar

Webinar “Guide to Patent Protection for Innovative Technology Products”
(This webinar will be live-streamed on 6 July 2022)

Upholding a robust and effective system for protecting intellectual property is the key to promote innovation and technology.  In this webinar, an intellectual property expert will explain the role of patents in innovation and technology, and introduce the process of and points to note on patent application, the difference between trade secrets and patents, and the protection of patent insurance.  Speaker will also answer frequently asked questions.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)


More Details
 

Trade and Industry Department / SUCCESS-supported Activities

“Webinar on Competition Ordinance”
(This webinar will be live-streamed on 12 July 2022)

This webinar is organised by the Competition Commission. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  In this webinar, representatives from the Competition Commission will provide an overview of the Competition Ordinance, dos and don’ts under the Ordinance, red flags of anti-competitive practices, Leniency and Cooperation Policies and competition law case studies in Hong Kong.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

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Course "Journey to HR Analytics: How to Apply Data to Manage Human Resources in a Qualitative Way?"
(This course will be held on 1, 8, 16, 23 and 29 August 2022 at Hong Kong Productivity Council)

This course is offered by the Hong Kong Productivity Council. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  It aims to equip human resources practitioners with the knowledge and practical skills in data analytics to formulate human resources strategies.  (Admission fee is required.  This course will be conducted in Cantonese.)


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Course "Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Banking on-chains - Swap, Borrow, Earn"
(This course will be held on 2, 4, 9 and 11 August 2022 at Hong Kong Productivity Council)

This course is offered by the Hong Kong Productivity Council. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  In this course, the instructor will introduce blockchain and cryptocurrency, and explain DeFi (Decentralized Finance) applications.  (Admission fee is required.  This course will be conducted in Cantonese.)

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100% Credit Limit Top-Up Scheme and the special supportive measures further extended to 31 December 2022

The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECIC) further extended the validity period of the 100% Credit Limit Top-Up Scheme (the Scheme) and the special supportive measures launched in response to the China-US trade conflict and the pandemic for six months to 31 December 2022 to support Hong Kong exporters to continue exploring new business opportunities amid the current complex global trading environment and the lingering pandemic, as well as to alleviate trade risk and reduce operating cost for the trade.

HKECIC launched the Scheme in June 2020 to support the export sector in the face of credit risks and to seize business opportunities.  Under the Scheme, HKECIC increases the credit limit of each buyer by 100%, or up to the amount applied for by the policyholders, whichever is smaller, subject to a cap of HK$100 million.  The Scheme covers all HKECIC’s insured markets and no separate application from the policyholders is required.

For details, please visit HKECIC’s website (http://www.hkecic.com/en/index.aspx) or see the relevant press release (http://www.hkecic.com/files/glancepdf/announcements_en20220620175248171.pdf).  For enquiries, please call HKECIC’s hotline at 2732 9933.

 

Employment and Retirement Schemes Legislation (Offsetting Arrangement) (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 gazetted

The Employment and Retirement Schemes Legislation (Offsetting Arrangement) (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (the Amendment Ordinance) was gazetted on 17 June 2022.

The Amendment Ordinance seeks to abolish the use of the accrued benefits derived from employers' mandatory contributions under the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System to offset severance payment (SP) and long service payment (LSP) (the offsetting arrangement).  Employers may continue to use the accrued benefits of their voluntary contributions and gratuities based on employees' length of service to offset SP/LSP.

For details, please see the relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202206/17/P2022061700246.htm).

 

Sickness Allowance and Employment Protection under Anti-Epidemic Measures

The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (the Amendment Ordinance) took effect on 17 June 2022.

The Amendment Ordinance stipulates that a sickness day under the Employment Ordinance includes a day on which an employee is absent from work by reason of his/her compliance with a specific requirement that imposes a restriction on movement under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) (e.g. the restriction imposed by an isolation order, a quarantine order or a “restriction-testing declaration”, while the restriction imposed on persons arriving at Hong Kong is not included).  Employers are required to grant sickness allowance to eligible employees.  Dismissal of an employee by reason of the employee’s absence from work due to his/her compliance with the above-mentioned restriction is considered as unreasonable dismissal under the Employment Ordinance.

When an employer makes a COVID-19 vaccination request in writing, an employee, who is not being exempted from the request, is dismissed because of his/her failure to produce the proof of having received COVID-19 vaccine within 56 days from the date of the making of the request, the dismissal is not considered as unreasonable dismissal under the Employment Ordinance.

Relevant provisions will be repealed when the pandemic is under control and vaccination is no longer a matter of grave public health concern.

For details, please visit the Labour Department’s homepage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/EAO2022.htm.

 

HKAEO Programme Launches Facebook Page

As part of the 10th anniversary celebration, the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (HKAEO) Programme launched its Facebook Page on 24 June 2022 with a view to strengthening the communications with stakeholders through the social media.

The HKAEO Facebook page will disseminate updates on local and global AEO Programmes, latest publicity activities and collaboration between Hong Kong Customs and stakeholders of the trading sector.

Interested parties are welcome to view, follow and share information of the page by visiting the URL www.facebook.com/HKAEOProgramme or scanning the QR code.


Topical Issues

 

Support Measures relating to Liquidity

In view of the cash-flow pressure of SMEs, SUCCESS has compiled a summary of support measures relating to liquidity.

More Details
 

SME ReachOut

Amid difficult business environment, HKPC knows SMEs are in the urgent need of cash to keep business running.  The newly established "SME ReachOut" support team is here to help SMEs well equip for bouncing back, through introducing and matching the appropriate funding schemes.

"SME ReachOut", a dedicated service team operated by HKPC, has commenced operation starting from 1 January 2020 to support SMEs through free-of-charge one-on-one meetings.  The team would help SMEs identify funding schemes that suit their needs, while answering questions relating to applications.

There are over 40 funding schemes provided by the Government for SMEs, with different funding scopes, amounts and requirements.  "SME ReachOut" serves to enhance SMEs' understanding of the Government's funding schemes, with a view to encouraging better utilisation of the support provided by the Government, and to enhancing their competitiveness and development.

For further information or enquiries, please contact "SME ReachOut" Hotline / WhatsApp (Text Message Only) at 2788 6868 or email by sme_reachout@hkpc.org or visit https://www.hkpc.org/en/support-resource/sme-one/sme-reachout.

 

Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)

The Trade and Industry Department (TID) rolled out an enhancement to the BUD Fund on 27 June 2022.

To further support enterprises in making use of the better protection afforded by Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs) to develop more diversified markets, effective from 27 June 2022, the geographical scope of the BUD Fund has been extended with an addition of two economies with which Hong Kong has signed IPPAs, namely Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The geographical scope of the BUD Fund has been extended, in three phases since July 2021, from 20 economies with which Hong Kong has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to cover 37 economiesnote 1 with which Hong Kong has signed FTAs and/or IPPAs.

Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) as the BUD Fund Implementer regularly organises seminars/webinars in order to enhance enterprises’ understanding of the BUD Fund.  For more details of the BUD Fund, please visit its website (https://www.bud.hkpc.org/en) or contact HKPC at 2788 6088.

 

note 1Besides the two newly added economies of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, the other 35 economies covered under the BUD Fund are the Mainland, New Zealand, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Chile, Macao, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), Georgia, Australia, Japan, Korea, Austria, Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
 

Corruption Prevention Advisory Service (CPAS) of ICAC

A good governance system is vital for SMEs' effective operation, and can help sustain their company image and hence counterparts' confidence in doing business with them.  The Corruption Prevention Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has launched the Corruption Prevention Advisory Service (CPAS).  The CPAS is a specialised unit dedicated to providing tailor-made, free and confidential corruption prevention advice on system control in common business areas such as procurement and staff administration.  Enterprises can access its user-friendly web portal (https://cpas.icac.hk/EN/) for details of the services and to get timely and useful resources on corruption prevention such as staff code of conduct, corruption prevention guides and tools, case studies, quick tips and red flags.

To receive regular updates on corruption prevention, please click here to subscribe to the CPAS e-news.

 

Free IP Consultation Service

The Intellectual Property Department (IPD), supported by the Law Society of Hong Kong, now provides FREE One-On-One IP Consultation Service for SMEs.  To obtain more information and/or apply for the Service, please visit IPD's dedicated website "Hong Kong - The IP Trading Hub": https://www.ip.gov.hk/ipcs-e.

 

Webinar “Sustainable Finance for Hong Kong’s Post-Covid SMEs”

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 18 August 2022)

The webinar is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.  The COVID-19 outbreak gave a wake up call on the global supply chain for businesses, including SMEs who are the backbone of the world economy, causing them to recalibrate their supply chain strategies and shift to a more sustainable approach by incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.  This webinar will focus on the ways in which SMEs can make good use of ESG financing solutions to develop sustainability‑related projects for generating measurable, beneficial social or environmental impacts alongside positive financial returns.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details

 

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 only)
 

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.  The latest CICs have been published. 

More Details

   
   
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