SCED speaks on Hong Kong - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement
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Reporter: Mr So, can you give us an update on the Hong Kong - ASEAN trade deal that you have just mentioned?
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: The Hong Kong – ASEAN Free Trade Agreement negotiation is progressing very well. We almost completed the negotiation on the major items. It is our plan that the agreement will be entering into by the end of this year. We are now going through procedures, legal swopping and other things. The other economies will also have to follow the domestic agenda and procedures, before we will be in a position to sign this together. We could appreciate that there are 10 countries involved plus Hong Kong, so time must be allowed to finish complying with all these procedures.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, May 13, 2017
Issued at HKT 10:59
Issued at HKT 10:59
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