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Business forum on liberalisation of trade in services and implementation arrangements under CEPA (with photos)
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     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Ministry of Commerce of the Central People's Government, and the People's Government of Guangdong Province jointly held the 2015 Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Forum on Liberalization of Trade in Services today (March 23).  The forum aimed to enhance the Hong Kong business community's understanding of the liberalisation measures contained in the Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Achieving Basic Liberalization of Trade in Services in Guangdong (Guangdong Agreement) and the associated implementation arrangements.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, the Deputy Director-General, Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Sun Tong, and the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Ms Zhao Yufang, attended and delivered speeches at the forum.

     Thirteen representatives from central ministries and 20 representatives from the People's Government of Guangdong Province introduced the content and implementation arrangements, as well as the criteria and procedures for application for preferential treatment under the Guangdong Agreement, and answered questions from Hong Kong businessmen at the forum.

     The forum included three breakout sessions, covering financial services (banking, securities and insurance); accounting; legal; construction and related engineering; tourism; technical testing, analysis and product testing; telecommunications; computer and related services.

     The Central People's Government announced in 2011 the objective of basic liberalisation of trade in services between the Mainland and Hong Kong by the end of the National 12th Five-Year Plan period.  The Guangdong Agreement signed last December under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) advanced the achievement of this goal for Guangdong Province.

     By the end of February 2015, the HKSAR Government has approved nearly 123,000 applications for Certificate of Hong Kong Origin under CEPA, with the total export value of goods from Hong Kong to the Mainland amounting to over HK$68 billion.  Major categories of exports were plastics and plastic articles, pharmaceutical products, textiles and clothing, food and beverages, among others. Tariff savings amounted to about RMB 4.7 billion.

     In addition, the HKSAR Government issued over 2,800 Hong Kong Service Supplier Certificates to more than 1,600 enterprises under CEPA.  Major service sectors involved were transport and logistics, distribution, air transport, placement and supply services of personnel, and advertising services.

Ends/Monday, March 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:33

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