[1] The Commercial Deputation, founded in 1665, originally consisted of seven members, elected among the city's "honourable merchants."
The Commercial Deputation was officially recognised by the Hamburg council (senate) in 1674 as the representation of the city's merchants.
The Commercial Deputation was, along with council/senate and Bürgerschaft, one of the most important political bodies of Hamburg.
In 1867, the Commercial Deputation was transformed into the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.
Since 2004 the Chamber of Commerce organizes the bi-annual Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe.