Films

Films

The Agreement on Trade in Services covers and consolidates commitments relating to liberalisation of trade in services provided in CEPA and its Supplements and also the Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Achieving Basic Liberalisation of Trade in Services in Guangdong.

Agreement on Trade in Services
Liberalisation Measures under Cross-border Services (Positive List)
Sectors or Sub-sectors
  1. Communications services
    1. Audiovisual services
      • Videos and sound recording products
      • Chinese language motion pictures and motion pictures jointly produced
      • Technical services of cable television
      • Jointly produced television dramas
      • Imported dramas
      • Other television programmes
      • Television animations
      • Motion picture or video tape production services (CPC96112)
      • Others
Specific commitments
Videos and sound recording products
  1. To allow motion pictures produced by Hong Kong to screen the original sound track of the dialects spoken in the motion pictures when it is contextually required, on the condition that standard Chinese subtitles are provided on screen.
  2. To allow contractual service providers employed by Hong Kong service suppliers, in the mode of movement of natural persons, to provide services under the specific liberalisation commitments of this sector or sub-sector in the Mainland.
Chinese language motion pictures and motion pictures jointly produced
  1. Chinese language motion pictures produced in Hong Kong after being vetted and approved by the relevant Mainland authority may be solely imported through the China Film Group Corporation and distributed in the Mainland by distributors possessing "Operation Licence for Film Distribution", without any restriction on import quotas.
  2. Chinese language motion pictures produced in Hong Kong refer to those motion pictures made by production companies which are set up or established in accordance with the relevant laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and which own more than 50% of the copyright of the motion pictures concerned. Hong Kong residents should comprise more than 50% of the total principal personnel1 in the motion pictures concerned.
  3. Motion pictures jointly produced by Hong Kong and the Mainland are treated as Mainland motion pictures for the purpose of distribution in the Mainland. Translated versions of the motion pictures in languages of other Chinese ethnic groups and Chinese dialects, which are based on the Putonghua version, are allowed to be distributed in the Mainland.
  4. For motion pictures jointly produced by Hong Kong and the Mainland, there is no restriction on the percentage of principal creative personnel and artistes as well as the Mainland-related content.
  5. To remove the restriction on the number of Hong Kong people participating in Mainland film productions.
  6. To allow the dialect version of motion pictures co-produced by Hong Kong and the Mainland to be distributed and screened in the Mainland, after obtaining the approval of the relevant authorities in the Mainland, on the condition that standard Chinese subtitles are provided on screen.
  7. To allow the dialect version of motion pictures produced by Hong Kong after being vetted and approved by the relevant Mainland authority to be solely imported by the China Film Group Corporation and distributed in the Mainland by distributors possessing "Operation Licence for Film Distribution", on the condition that standard Chinese subtitles are provided on screen.
  8. To waive the fees for establishing the Mainland and Hong Kong co-production motion pictures projects.
  9. To allow contractual service providers employed by Hong Kong service suppliers, in the mode of movement of natural persons, to provide services under the specific liberalisation commitments of this sector or sub-sector in the Mainland.
Technical services of cable television
  1. To allow Hong Kong companies engaging in the operation of cable television networks to provide professional technical services for cable television networks in the Mainland after obtaining the approval of the relevant Mainland authorities.
Jointly produced television dramas
  1. Television dramas co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong are permitted to be broadcast and distributed in the same way as Mainland produced television dramas after being examined by the relevant Mainland provincial radio and television administration.
  2. Television dramas co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong should be subject to the same standard on the number of episodes as that applicable to Mainland produced television dramas.
  3. To relax the restrictions on the percentage of principal creative personnel, Mainland-related content, investment proportion, etc. for television dramas co-produced by Hong Kong and the Mainland; and to shorten the time limit for approval of synopses for any proposal of television drama to be co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong.
  4. National Radio and Television Administration has delegated to the provincial radio and television administration the authority of examining the finished tapes of Mainland produced television dramas which are produced by the production organisations under the provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities and participated by artistes or production crew from Hong Kong.
  5. For any proposal of television drama to be co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong programme production organisations, the minimum number of words in Chinese contained in the synopsis of each episode is 800.
  6. To remove the restriction on the number of Hong Kong people participating as principal creative personnel in online television dramas.
Imported dramas
  1. To remove the restriction on the number of Hong Kong produced television dramas imported by Mainland television stations, audiovisual websites and cable television networks, and to relax the restriction on the number and time of broadcast of Hong Kong produced television dramas.
  2. To allow imported dramas produced in Hong Kong to be broadcast during prime time in television stations in the Mainland after obtaining approval from the National Radio and Television Administration.
Other television programmes
  1. To remove the restriction on the number of Hong Kong people participating in the production of Mainland television programmes and television dramas.
  2. To remove the restriction on the number of Hong Kong people participating in the production of Mainland online audiovisual programmes.
  3. To allow television programmes other than television dramas co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong to be broadcast and distributed in the same way as those produced by the Mainland, after obtaining the approval of the relevant Mainland authorities.
  4. To allow terrestrial and satellite television channels in Hong Kong to obtain the landing right to broadcast within specific areas such as hotels, guesthouses, etc. in the Mainland after obtaining approval from the National Radio and Television Administration.
Television animations
  1. To remove the restriction on the number of Hong Kong produced animation television programmes imported by Mainland television stations, audiovisual websites and cable television networks; and to relax the restriction on the number and time of broadcast of Hong Kong produced animation television programmes in the Mainland.
  2. To allow animation television programmes co-produced by the Mainland and Hong Kong to be broadcast and distributed in the same way as those produced by the Mainland, after obtaining the approval of the relevant Mainland authorities.
Reserved Restrictive Measures under Commercial Presence (Negative List)
Sector
  1. Communication Services
Sub-sector
  1. Audiovisual services
    • Cinema theatre services
    • Motion picture or video tape production and distribution services (CPC9611)
    • Radio and television services (CPC9613)
    • Other
Obligations concerned
National Treatment
Reserved Restrictive Measures
Commercial Presence
Cinema theatre services
  1. Not to construct cinema theatre chains.
Motion picture or video tape production and distribution services

  1. Approval of the relevant Mainland authorities is required for establishment of enterprises on a wholly-owned basis in the Mainland to distribute Mainland motion pictures.

    For clarity and avoidance of doubt, distribution enterprises established by Hong Kong service suppliers and approved by the relevant Mainland authorities can operate distribution of imported buy-out Hong Kong motion pictures.

  2. Not to invest in enterprises engaging in import of motion pictures.
Radio and television services
  1. Not to invest in radio stations, television stations, broadcasting television channels (frequencies), broadcasting television transmission networks (transmitting stations, relay stations, broadcasting television satellites, uplinking satellite stations, satellite transposers, microwave link stations, monitoring stations, cable broadcasting television transmission networks, etc.) at any regional level. Not to engage in video-on-demand broadcasting television services and installation services of satellite television receiving facilities.
  2. Not to engage in the production and operation of radio and television programmes (including importing business).
Others
  1. Not to engage in online audiovisual services.
1
Principal personnel includes personnel performing the roles of director, screenwriter, leading actor, leading actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, producer, cinematographer, editor, art director, costume designer, action choreographer, and composer of the original film score.

Rules and regulations promulgated by the Mainland authorities relating to the implementation of commitments under CEPA :

Cinema Theatre Services

Motion Picture Distribution Services

Film Production Services

Chinese Language Motion Pictures and Motion Pictures Jointly Produced

Enquiries concerning the application procedures and requirements for the provision of audiovisual services relating to films in the Mainland can be directed to:

2025-05-27
39225
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