Electronic Data Interchange

Hong Kong's use of electronic data interchange has continued to expand.
Electronic data interchange, the computer-to-computer exchange of
business information in standard formats, is one of the techniques being
implemented world-wide in an attempt to curb the amount of paperwork
involved in business and to improve efficiency.

During the year, the Community Electronic Trading Service (CETS)
became available fully to the business community for applications of
textile export licences and lodgements of trade declarations. The CETS is
a joint venture involving the government and 10 leading trade-related
organisations in Hong Kong. The number of companies using the CETS
will increase quickly because it will become the only means of applying
for textiles export licences by January 1999 and lodging trade declarations
by April 2000.

In the interests of compatibility, the government agreed that the United
Nations Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and
Transport, a standard developed by the UN for electronic trading, will be
adopted for government transactions wherever applicable. The
government is pleased to note that the private sector services also
incorporate this standard.

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