In Brief

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Published: 12:00am, 4 Aug 2007

Guangzhou mayor urges more services investment from HK

Guangzhou Mayor Zhang Guangning yesterday called on Hong Kong's service industries to step up investment in the mainland city to boost economic co-operation between them. Mr Zhang said service industries accounted for 57.6 per cent of Guangzhou's gross domestic product, but there was a need for further development of the services sector. He encouraged Hong Kong companies, particularly those in financial services and accountancy, to set up regional headquarters or branches in Guangzhou. Xiao Zhenyu, the director-general of Guangzhou's Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, said the city government would invest 150 million yuan to develop the Zhujiang New Town financial centre.

Exam applications open today for civil service recruitment

Applications for the Common Recruitment Examinations for civil service posts at the degree or professional level open today. The exams will be held on October 6 and November 24 for six overseas cities, a Civil Service Bureau spokesman said. Details can be found at the bureau homepage at www.csb.gov.hk, or at its hotline on 2537 6429. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice will recruit government counsel from September to October. Applicants must obtain a level 2 result in the Use of English paper and a level 1 result in the Use of Chinese paper.

New local and overseas firms increase by 19pc in first half

The number of local and overseas companies that registered in the first half of this year has risen, the Companies Registry said. The number of new local companies incorporated was 47,417, a 19.12 per cent rise from the 39,807 in the same period last year. Meanwhile, 316 new overseas companies set up offices locally and registered in the period - a 12.46 per cent increase from 281 in the same period last year. The total number of active companies registered to the end of June was 622,318 - up 30,374 from the end of last year, while the number of registered overseas companies stood at 7,854, 145 more than at the end of last year.