WITH a membership of close to 1,000 people, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in Hongkong is the largest such organisation outside of Canada. This indicates the importance of body, which has now extended its scope beyond its original mission, which was to develop and promote two-way trade and investment between Hongkong and Canada. This change was, perhaps, inevitable because of the crucial role that Hongkong plays in the economic development of southern China, and the emergence of this part of Asia as a major growth area. The chamber's new president, Eliza Chan, said the CCC would be sponsoring several delegations and trade missions to China. Such visits would cover not only locations in southern China but extend to cities in the northern provinces. ''Later in the year, it is hoped a major conference on reciprocal trade and investment in China and Canada will be held in conjunction with the Commission for Canada and various provincial governments in China,'' said Ms Chan. The chamber, therefore, needed to access its own jurisdiction and was in the process of defining its scope. Ms Chan said she expected a busy year, since the CCC was a vibrant and well-managed organisation, representing the interests of the increasingly influential Canadian business community in the territory. ''One of the major objectives for the chamber is to expand its membership to achieve some of its other aims,'' she said. Ms Chan hoped to encourage debate on ways and means of achieving this objective. One topic of conversation was to decide whether material and publications produced by the chamber should be in both English and Chinese. The Hongkong CCC began in 1977 and had about 50 members at that time. ''Since then, more Canadians of Hongkong origin are returning to the territory,'' said Ms Chan. ''They are coming back because of the market potential in Asia.'' Ms Chan said there were a number of reasons why such people were returning. They were encouraged because they were familiar with the area and culture. They were also able to act as the bridge between Canadian companies and local businessmen. ''In the last two years, more Chinese/Canadians are coming back to Hongkong because of the China market,'' said Ms Chan. The chamber's executive director, Leslie Henderson, said that it had established 15 committees to handle various aspects of interest to the chamber. Among these groups are the ''Business Briefings'' committee, the ''Canadian Forum'' committee, ''China Business and Investment'' and the ''Indochina Trade and Investment'' committees, which indicate the expansion of the chamber's interest from its earlier narrow focus in Hongkong. The committees also indicate that the chamber's activities represent a two-way interest. The CCC is not only interested in promoting Canadian investment in Hongkong and developing trade and investment with southern China and Vietnam, but in encouraging trade and investment in Canada. Ms Chan, who has been on missions to Canada visiting various provinces, has found growing interest in Hongkong and China as markets for Canadian goods and investment. She said when she visited Vancouver, as part of a joint conference held with the Asia/Pacific Foundation in Canada, she was asked specific questions about Hongkong. The chamber holds an average of 80 functions a year, which attract more than 4,000 participants. Among these activities are regular luncheons featuring prominent business personalities from Hongkong and Canada, seminars on a wide range of subjects that are aimed at people hoping to set up business in Canada or moving there, and several jointly-sponsored events with local chambers and associations.