Press Release

CEPA Joint Working Group holds its first meeting
Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Central People's Government and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government attended the first meeting of the Joint Working Group under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong (CEPA) in Guangzhou on June 18.

The Chief Executive announced in his 2013 Policy Address that an additional Joint Working Group would be established to enhance the existing mechanism for the implementation of CEPA.

The first Joint Working Group meeting focused on discussing the CEPA implementation problems in Guangdong. As there are relatively more CEPA early and pilot liberalisation measures launched in Guangdong, the effective implementation of CEPA in Guangdong will set a good example for other parts of the Mainland.

The Mainland representatives came from the Ministry of Commerce; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; the National Health and Family Planning Commission; the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television; the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province; the Department of Finance of Guangdong Province; the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province; the Department of Health of Guangdong Province; the Radio, Film & TV Administration of Guangdong Province; the Finance Commission of Shenzhen Municipality; and the Housing and Construction Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

The HKSAR Government's representatives comprised those from the Trade and Industry Department, the Development Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Food and Health Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the Home Affairs Department, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong.

Representatives from six central ministries and seven departments of the People's Government of Guangdong Province attended the meeting, indicating that the Central and Guangdong Provincial Governments attach great importance to the implementation of CEPA. Representatives from both sides held interactive discussions, and put forward positive and constructive recommendations with a view to addressing the implementational issues of CEPA in Guangdong. Consensus was reached to continue promoting the effective implementation of CEPA and assisting Hong Kong enterprises in gaining access to the Mainland market. The two sides also agreed to maintain close co-operation to help the trade make good use of CEPA through enhancing transparency and providing more facilitation measures.

As regards the audiovisual (film) sector, the Radio, Film & TV Administration of Guangdong Province has been authorised by the State General Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television to censor Cantonese versions of Hong Kong films for the purpose of film festivals in Guangdong. When they are commercially released in Guangdong in the future, the time required for importation of the films according to the prevailing mechanism will be reduced. The measure will facilitate access of Cantonese versions of Hong Kong films to the Guangdong market, and enable synchronised distribution of the films in Hong Kong.

On accounting services, the Mainland authorities agreed to initiate steps to make suitable amendments to the "Provisional Measures on Examining, Approving and Supervising Accounting Firms" (Order No. 24 of the Finance Minister of the People's Republic of China) in respect of the requirements of audit experience for becoming partners of accounting firms in Qianhai under the "Provisional Measures on Applications of Accounting Professionals from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for Appointment as Partners of Accounting Firms in Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone", taking into account the concerns of accounting professionals and relevant authorities from Hong Kong.

In respect of the area of construction services, regarding Class I Architects' registration for practice under the Guangdong early and pilot scheme, the Mainland authority provided explanation concerning implementation issues that made the relevant requirements clearer, with a view to assisting the professionals to apply for registration for practice in Guangdong. Both sides also agreed to expedite arrangements to enable Hong Kong's general practice surveyors and the Mainland's real estate appraisers who had obtained the other side's qualifications to register for practice in the Mainland and Hong Kong respectively according to the mutual recognition agreement.

As regards the medical sector, the HKSAR Government sought to strengthen and deepen co-operation with the Mainland on the implementation of related CEPA measures, so as to assist Hong Kong health-care professionals to set up practices in the Mainland, and with a view to enhancing professional exchanges and standards.

Regarding the property management sector, the Mainland side and the Hong Kong side exchanged views and made good progress on concrete ways to enable Hong Kong service suppliers to make use of CEPA to apply for property management company qualifications in the Mainland.

Relevant bureaux and departments of the HKSAR Government will maintain close liaison and follow up with their Mainland counterparts after the meeting. They will also liaise closely with the trade, explaining to them the follow-up work and outcomes.

Since the introduction of CEPA, the Mainland and Hong Kong have been maintaining close liaison through established mechanisms at central, provincial and municipal levels on CEPA implementation. The Joint Working Group provides targeted assistance in sectors which have encountered relatively more entry barriers, and helps to resolve CEPA implementation problems encountered in individual provinces and municipalities. The Group is led, on the Mainland side, by the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, which will invite relevant central ministries and municipal governments to take part in meetings. The Trade and Industry Department is the co-ordinating department on the Hong Kong side and relevant departments are invited to join meetings as necessary.

Looking forward, the HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with the Mainland authorities for the effective implementation of CEPA.

Ends