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CEPA High Level Conference on Professional Services held in Beijing

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The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr An Min, jointly chaired the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) High Level Conference on Professional Services today (February 17) in Beijing.

Mr Tang is leading a high-level delegation that comprises senior government officials of the relevant bureaus and departments and representatives from major professional sectors to hold talks with the Mainland on the recognition of professional qualifications and other issues relating to professional services under CEPA.

Speaking at a press conference held after the High Level Conference, Mr Tang said the conference had provided a useful forum for Hong Kong professional bodies to have formal discussions with the relevant Mainland authorities on issues of interest to their particular sectors, such as the recognition of professional qualifications.

"I am very pleased that substantive progress on this front has been made, enabling our professional services to benefit from the new and huge opportunities brought about by CEPA.

"What we have started is a continuous process. We encourage our professional bodies to continue their discussions with the relevant ministries in the Mainland in future. With the channels established or reinforced as a result of the conference, I believe we have paved the way for a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation in the development of professional services in the two places," Mr Tang said.

"I am particularly glad to witness today the signing of a mutual recognition agreement for architects between the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and the National Administration Board of Architectural Registration, and a draft mutual recognition agreement for structural engineers between the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the National Administration Board of Engineering Registration (Structural). I warmly congratulate all parties concerned, particularly the professional bodies taking the lead and the government bureau and authority in support, on the achievement," added Mr Tang.

Progress has also been achieved on the financial services front. Both sides reaffirmed the need for the Mainland and Hong Kong to further enhance their cooperation in the financial services sector, including the exchange and mutual recognition of professionals.

Specifically, the insurance regulators today signed an agreement on measures to help Hong Kong residents to take the Mainland Insurance Practitioners Qualifying Examinations. The Financial Secretary applauded the outcome. The meeting also hoped that the relevant measures could be implemented within the year.

For the securities and futures sector, both sides will continue to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement concerning simplification of procedures for attaining securities and futures professional qualifications signed in December 2003. As for the accounting sector, discussion on proposals to help Hong Kong's accountants to enter the Mainland market will follow. Both sides also agreed to further study the concept of "practicing in association" and the provision of book-keeping services.

For the legal services sector, there were very useful discussions with the Ministry of Justice on the implementation of the legal services commitments under CEPA. Proposals were made by the Hong Kong legal services sector to lower the qualification requirements for Hong Kong lawyers to qualify and practise as Mainland lawyers. These proposals included lawyers qualification examination, internship, exemption of examination subjects and lifting employment restriction. Both sides have agreed to hold further discussions on these issues.

For the medical and dental services sectors, representatives from both sides also discussed the implementation of the specific commitments under CEPA. In full recognition of the importance of the exchange of professionals in improving the standard of practice in the two places, both sides agreed to continue discussions in areas such as mutual recognition of professional qualifications with a view to progressively achieving liberalisation of trade in medical and dental services.

At the first CEPA Steering Committee meeting in Beijing on December 17, 2003, it was agreed that a high level conference on professional services should be convened by the end of February 2004 to discuss issues faced by Hong Kong professionals in launching or expanding their businesses in the Mainland.

Before the plenary session of the High Level Conference co-chaired by the Financial Secretary and the Vice Minister this afternoon, sectoral meetings were lined up for members of the delegation to discuss with the relevant ministries issues of interest to their professional services.

Members of the Hong Kong delegation include the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma Si-hang; the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang; the Director of the Beijing Office, Mr Bowen Leung; the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works), Mr Lo Yiu-ching; the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Kevin Ho; and representatives from the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau; Environment, Transport and Works Bureau; Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau; Health, Welfare and Food Bureau; Trade and Industry Department; Department of Justice; Department of Health; Estate Agents Authority, Office of the Commissioner of Insurance; and the Securities and Futures Commission.

The delegation also comprises representatives from major professional sectors, namely legal services, medical and dental services, construction-related professional services, real estate agent services, and financial services, which include accounting services, insurance and securities.

Mainland officials attending today's conference included the Director-General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Wang Liaoping; the Director-General of the Department of Exchange and Cooperation, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Mr Qian Lijun; and representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Health, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Ends/Tuesday, February 17, 2004

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