New portal to provide business information on Hong Kong

A new business portal, business.gov.hk, was launched today (February 4) to provide local, Mainland and overseas investors with essential information on how to start or expand a business in Hong Kong.

This new portal, conceived by the Communications and Technology Branch of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau (CITB), offers access to over 100 information sources, including Government departments, public bodies and trade associations.

The e-Government Coordinator of the CITB, Mr Robin Gill, said that business.gov.hk was a government-to-business (G2B) gateway providing a single point of entry to up-to-date and comprehensive content and services, and was designed to be user-friendly for corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.

"The portal is another e-government project aiming to provide a whole new experience for users in terms of user-friendliness, content diversity and customer centricity. Apart from Government material, information and services from commercial sources will be included to increase the value of the portal to users," Mr Gill said.

The website provides detailed information under the following headings:

Start your Business

Features a series of guideliness on starting a business, such as how to register and how to apply for licences and permits. Other information for potential entrepreneurs includes marketing statistics, legal matters, taxation and staff recruitment.

Finance your Business

Provides information on a series of financing options, including details of relevant Government funds and assistance available from other organisations, and help on managing capital.

Grow your Business

Offers detailed information on promotion and networking, marketing research statistics and advice on how to develop business opportunities with the Government and private sector enterprises.

Manage your Business

Covers topics such as trade and logistics, office administration, taxation and accounting, quality and standards management.

A wide range of e-services offered by both the public and private sectors, such as the Government Bookstore, the Statistical Bookstore, Application for Information on the Business Register, as well as tools for enterprise performance assessment, are available on the website. Users may also gain access to other local and worldwide business information through the search engine.

The portal is one of the many services under the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme. For further information or customer support, call 3151 2222 or email: bep_support@esdlife.com.

Wednesday, February 4, 2004

- END -