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The Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will examine the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) at its meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday and Friday (February 17 and 18).

Under WTO requirements, all free trade agreements (FTAs) have to be notified to the WTO and be subject to the examination of WTO members to ensure that the agreements are consistent with  WTO rules governing FTAs.

The Mainland and Hong Kong are two separate members of the WTO. CEPA is the first  FTA concluded by the two places under the WTO framework for FTAs and was notified to the WTO in December, 2003, and January, 2005.

"We will fully co-operate with the committee in the examination process and are confident that CEPA lives up to the objectives and rules of the WTO for FTAs," a spokesman for the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau said today (February 15).

The CRTA will examine, among other FTAs, CEPA at its meeting this week and representatives of the governments of both the Mainland and Hong Kong will take part.

The Hong Kong, China delegation, led by the Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Commerce and Industry), Mr Philip Yung, comprises officials from the Commerce and Industry Branch of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, Trade and Industry Department, the Department of Justice, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Geneva. The delegation will depart for Geneva this evening (February 15).

The Mainland delegation will be led by the Ministry of Commerce.

Ends/Tuesday, February 15, 2005

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