Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs
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SUCCESS
E-newsletter
16 November 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.  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. 

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What's New

Events & Activities of the SME Link

To enhance the integrated services of the four existing SMEs centres, including the SUCCESS under the TID, 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 (HKSTP), the TID has established a web portal called "SME Link" for SMEs to access comprehensive information and support services from a single online platform.  The "Events & Activities" of the SME Link facilitates enterprises to obtain information on SMEs related seminars/workshops/activities, including those organised by the four SMEs centres from a single platform, and also provides links to the relevant event web pages to facilitate registration. 

Please click here to browse the Events & Activities of the SME Link
 

Activities of the SME Service Centres

SME Service Centres' "4-in-1" Seminar Series

The Government consolidated the services of the four SMEs centres in October 2019 to provide “4-in-1” integrated services.  Theme of the “4-in-1” seminar series in the second half of 2022 is “New Normal of Business after Pandemic”, continued being co-organised by the four SMEs centres, with an aim to assisting enterprises to grasp business opportunities and expand new markets under the new normal by introducing the topics including exploring new market opportunities, business transformation, the latest development of technological solutions and Government funding schemes, etc.  SUCCESS of TID would organise the following webinar under this seminar series on 17 November 2022.  Interested persons are welcome to register at the link below.  Admission is Free.

I. "Taxation Series on Starting Business in GBA (I): Taxation Guide to Starting a Business" (Webinar)
(The webinar will be held by SUCCESS of TID on 17 November 2022)

With the rapid development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), many Hong Kong people are looking for business opportunities in the GBA market.  This webinar will briefly introduce the enterprise taxation system in the Mainland and explain taxation issues Hong Kong people may encounter when setting up businesses in the GBA through case sharing, including factors to consider at the early stage of investment and relevant tax requirements.  The speaker will also share taxation tips on starting business in the GBA and answer questions in the Q&A session, with a view to assisting Hong Kong enterprises in seizing the opportunities in the GBA.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

For more details of the webinar and registration, please click here

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TID / SUCCESS-supported Activities

I. Fashion Asia 2022 Hong Kong: Fashion Challenges Forum
(This Forum will be held at Grand Hyatt Hotel on 28 November 2022)

Organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre since 2016 as part of the fashion initiatives of the Government, the “Fashion Asia Hong Kong” revisits the state of play of the fashion industry and discuss the challenges facing the industry.  It includes the Fashion Challenges Forum, the “10 Asian Designers to Watch” exhibition, networking events, workshops, the “Fashion Asia Digital Series” online exchanging and learning platform, etc.  The Forum this year will dive deep into the current issues facing the fashion industry. Industry leaders, designers, entrepreneurs, and more from the global fashion community will share their observations and experiences on the ever-changing fashion business landscape, as well as actionable and innovative ideas for businesses and brands.  (This Forum will be conducted in English.)


More Details

II. Let’s Connect! HKTDC Entrepreneur Day 2022
(This event will be live-streamed and held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in hybrid mode from 30 November to 2 December 2022)

This event is organised by the HKTDC.  The Entrepreneur Day this year will be held in a hybrid mode for the first time to engage the participants all over the world, which dedicated to connecting the startups, investors, and innovation and technology enthusiasts.  Under the theme of “Balance Beyond the Boom”, a series of seminars, workshops, startup pitching, exhibitions, business matching meetings and networking events will be organised to explore the development of international startup ecosystem after the startup boom.

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"Brand Building for Start-ups" Seminar Series

The TID and the HKTDC will jointly organise two seminar sessions on “Brand Building for Start-ups” (free of charge) on 30 November and 2 December during the HKTDC Entrepreneur Day 2022.  Details are as follows:

I. Entrepreneurship in Hong Kong – Scaling up through Hong Kong
(This seminar will be live-streamed and held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in hybrid mode on 30 November 2022)

As an international innovation and technology hub, Hong Kong provides a business-friendly environment with excellent infrastructure.  Coupled with the pool of talents and skills from all over the world, it has successfully nurtured a number of start-ups and facilitated their growth.

Three winners of the HKTDC Start-up Express will share their experience in starting business, particularly on how Hong Kong helps them expand markets, establish networks, increase exposure, find partners, and build their own brands.  (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese with simultaneous interpretation in English and Putonghua)

More Details

Please click here for registration

II. How to Market Your Start-up
(This seminar will be live-streamed and held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in hybrid mode on 2 December 2022)

Due to capital and manpower constraints, start-ups often lack a sound marketing and promotion strategy to promote their outstanding products and technologies.

Industry experts will share tips on four effective means of digital marketing to help start-ups build their own brands and devise effective promotion strategies.  (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese with simultaneous interpretation in English and Putonghua)

More Details

Please click here for registration
 

Intellectual Property Department: IP Training Programme "IP101 IP Basics"

(This course will be conducted at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 1 and 2 December 2022)

"IP101 IP Basics" is an event of "Business of IP Asia Forum 2022".  Each successful course applicant will be entitled to a complimentary pass of the Forum.  The course is dedicated for beginners, introducing the basic knowledge of various intellectual property (IP), enabling participants to understand the rights of IP owners and users, thereby enhancing their capability of protecting and managing IP rights within the enterprise.  This course will be conducted in Cantonese (simultaneous interpretation service in English available).

Interested participants may first enroll in the "IP Manager Scheme PLUS" for free by filling out an online form.  Registration fee for the course is waived for members of the Scheme.  Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the course.

More Details
 

Workshop on ASEAN Roadmap to Successful IP Commercialisation in a Knowledge-based Economy

(This workshop will be live-streamed on 2 December 2022)

This workshop is organised by the Intellectual Property Department and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation.  Intellectual property (IP) commercialisation is a key driver of economic growth in a knowledge-based economy.  This workshop will highlight the best practices for enterprises in managing IP assets to enhance IP protection, research and development (R&D) capacity and technology transfer to enable effective commercialisation and drive the development of a creative and R&D based economy.  It will also cover how IP policies and measures could facilitate exploitation and commercialisation of IP.  (This workshop will be conducted in English.)

More Details

Please click here for registration
 

Working Group on Industrial, Commercial and Professional Sectors Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee - Constitution and Basic Law Feature Articles

The Working Group on Industrial, Commercial and Professional Sectors under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee has recently invited Ms Melissa Pang (Convenor of the Working Group), Mr Chan Chak Ming (President of The Law Society of Hong Kong), Mr Jimmy Ng (LegCo Member) and Dr Kennedy Wong (LegCo Member) to contribute articles sharing their views on the Constitution, the Basic Law and the Hong Kong National Security Law, as well as Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems”.

Please click here to read the feature articles
 

Government suitably relaxes social distancing measures further with effect from 17 November 2022

Having assessed the epidemic risk and the need for resuming social and economic activities, the Government announced on 10 November 2022 that the social distancing measures will be suitably relaxed further with effect from 17 November 2022 such that citizens' livelihood may continue to resume normalcy in an orderly manner.  The social distancing measures to be relaxed include:

  1. For premises in which patrons usually wear masks, the Vaccine Pass requirement will be changed from "active checking" to "passive checking".  In other words, persons-in-charge of these premises will no longer need to actively check patrons' vaccination records or exemption certificates upon their entry.  However, patrons will still need to comply with the vaccination requirements under the Vaccine Pass to enter the premises, and present the relevant records or exemption certificates as required by law enforcement officers during spot checks or other enforcement actions.  Under existing inbound control arrangements, holders of Amber Code (i.e. inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan during their first three days on arrival) cannot enter premises subject to "active checking", but may enter premises subject to "passive checking" subject to compliance with the vaccination requirements under the Vaccine Pass.
  2. With regard to the checking of compliance by patrons of requirements in relation to the Vaccine Pass and the use of "LeaveHomeSafe", the administrative arrangements for markets managed by the Government will be aligned with the relevant requirements for private markets, i.e. both will be subject to "passive checking".
  3. Eating and drinking will be allowed at performance venues (whether indoors or outdoors), spectator stands of outdoor sports premises, as well as outdoor areas of racecourses.
  4. Campsites and other outdoor leisure venues managed by the Government will be re-opened.
  5. The minimum 1.5-metre distancing requirement between each participant in training groups or classes with more than 12 persons in fitness centres will be lifted.  Instead, sub-groups of 12 persons will be required to keep such a distance in between each sub-group.
Other social distancing measures will remain unchanged, including the requirement for participants in banquets as well as patrons of bars/pubs and clubs/nightclubs to undergo rapid antigen test (RAT); as well as mask-wearing for passengers on public transport carriers and in specified public places.

For specific measures and other details, please see the relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/10/P2022111000806.htm).

Government provides specific arrangements for inbound tour groups

The Government announced on 7 November 2022 that under the principle of striking a balance between epidemic risks and the need for economic development, and considering that the inbound tour group travellers concerned would be received and assisted to carry out tourist activities in compliance with the anti-epidemic measures by travel agents and accompanied by licensed tourist guides, specific arrangements for inbound tour group travellers will be launched in November 2022.  The relevant arrangements can support the gradual resumption of the inbound travel market in an orderly manner, and provide a more favourable business environment for the travel trade.

The specific arrangements will allow inbound tour group travellers who are received by licensed travel agents and have pre-registered their itineraries to:

  1. enter designated tourist attractions including theme parks, museums and temples when holding an Amber Code of the Vaccine Pass; and
  2. enter and dine in the partitioned areas in designated catering premises that meet special anti-epidemic requirements when holding an Amber Code of the Vaccine Pass.
For inbound tour groups to receive the above-mentioned specific arrangements, relevant licensed travel agents are required to pre-register the itineraries of those inbound tour groups with the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), and to undertake strict compliance with applicable anti-epidemic measures, such as requiring inbound group tour travellers to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app and comply with requirements under the Vaccine Pass, as well as the staff members to wear a mask at all times when receiving the inbound tour group travellers.

The Government will discuss with the TIC on the implementation details and conditions of the above-mentioned measures, including the coverage of designated tourist attractions, the special anti-epidemic measures required for the designated catering premises, and the anti-epidemic measures to be observed by staff members who receive the travellers.  Relevant information will be uploaded to the website of the TIC (https://www.tichk.org/en) in due course.

For details, please see the relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/07/P2022110700466.htm).

2022 Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme opens for applications until 13 January 2023

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) is inviting applications for the 2022 Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme from 14 November 2022 until 13 January 2023.

Launched in 2004, the Scheme provides funding for applied research and development (R&D) projects in Guangdong and Hong Kong to enhance collaboration between universities, research institutes and technology enterprises of the two places, and to upgrade the technological level of the industries in the Greater Pearl River Delta region.  The Shenzhen Municipal Government joined the Scheme in the following year.

There are three categories of projects under the Scheme.  The first category is funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of Hong Kong and is open to Hong Kong institutions.  The second category is funded by the relevant Mainland authorities and open to Mainland institutions.  The third category is jointly funded by the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments or the Shenzhen and Hong Kong governments.  Applications have to be simultaneously submitted by Hong Kong and Mainland institutions to the ITC and the relevant Mainland authorities respectively.

For details, please visit the ITF website (https://www.itf.gov.hk/l-eng/TCFS.asp) and relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/14/P2022111000431.htm).
 

Hong Kong and Mauritius enter into tax pact

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Mauritius on 7 November 2022, signifying the Government's sustained efforts in expanding Hong Kong's tax treaty network.

This CDTA is the 46th agreement that Hong Kong has concluded.  It sets out the allocation of taxing rights between the two jurisdictions and will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities, thereby promoting economic and trade connections between Hong Kong and Mauritius.

Under the Hong Kong-Mauritius CDTA, double taxation will be avoided in that any tax paid in Mauritius, whether directly or by deduction, by Hong Kong companies in accordance with the CDTA will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong on the same income, subject to the provisions of the tax laws of Hong Kong.

Moreover, the Hong Kong-Mauritius CDTA also provides the following tax relief arrangements:

  1. Mauritius' withholding tax rates for Hong Kong residents on interest and royalties will be capped at 5 per cent; and
  2. Profits from international shipping transport earned by Hong Kong residents arising in Mauritius will not be taxed in Mauritius.
This CDTA will come into force after the completion of ratification procedures by both jurisdictions.  In the case of Hong Kong, it will be implemented by way of an order to be made by the Chief Executive in Council under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112).  The order is subject to negative vetting by the Legislative Council.

For details of the Hong Kong-Mauritius CDTA, please visit the Inland Revenue Department's website (https://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Agreement_Mauritius_HongKong.pdf) and relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/07/P2022110700381.htm).
 

Commencement notices of legislation concerning producer responsibility scheme on glass beverage containers gazetted

The Government published in the Gazette on 11 November 2022 three commencement notices of the legislation concerning the producer responsibility scheme on glass beverage containers (GPRS) for the full implementation of the scheme to promote recycling of waste glass beverage containers in Hong Kong.

According to the notices, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will start accepting registration of suppliers and applications for exemptions and container waste disposal licences on 1 February 2023, and implement the GPRS fully on 1 May 2023.

Starting from 1 May 2023, any person who distributes glass-bottled beverages in Hong Kong must first register with the EPD as a registered supplier.  A registered supplier must fulfil its statutory obligations, including submission of returns, keeping records relating to the returns, payment of container recycling levies, submission of annual audit reports, and so on.

Starting from the same day, any person who stores, treats, reprocesses or recycles glass container waste must obtain a waste disposal licence, and any person who imports or exports such waste must obtain a relevant permit.

For details, please see the relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/11/P2022110900501.htm).
 

FEHD launched trial scheme to regulate placement of waste generated by food premises

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) began a trial scheme on 7 November 2022 in various districts to allow licensed food premises to place large-size waste containers in their connected rear lanes under specific conditions for temporary storage of waste until collection by the cleaning workers hired by the food premises.

Many food premises need to place their waste outdoors briefly for collection by cleaning workers, especially after business hours.  The FEHD wishes to assist, in a pragmatic way, the food business in fulfilling its responsibilities, and has therefore launched a trial scheme on 7 November 2022 to provide 240-litre waste containers labelled with shop signs in nine rear lanes connected to food premises.  By standardising the way food premises handle and store their waste, the FEHD seeks to improve the environmental hygiene of the rear lanes concerned and thereby effectively prevent rodent infestation.

For details, please see the relevant press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/07/P2022110700536.htm).
 

 

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 "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 TID rolled out enhancements to the BUD Fund on 7 November 2022.

The cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise of the BUD Fund has been raised from $6 million to $7 million and the maximum number of approved projects per enterprise has been increased from 60 to 70.

The HKPC as the BUD Fund implementation partner 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 the HKPC at 2788 6088. 

 

Webinar: "The Road to Net Zero: Tracking and Rewarding Carbon Saving"

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 15 December 2022)

This webinar is organised by the HKTDC.  There is a growing trend for investors factoring in environmental, social and governance (ESG) as essential considerations in their investment decisions.  ESG has become the future development direction of the global business community.  This webinar will explore on how enterprises could evaluate and duly reward the actions taken by their clients in tackling climate change, with a view to facilitating a smooth transition to a more sustainable, lower-carbon business ecosystem.  (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 TID 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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