Press Releases

Trade Working Group Meeting concluded successfully
Friday, September 28, 2001

The Trade Working Group ("TWG") set up under the Mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (the "Joint Commission") held its 4th meeting in Shenzhen on September 27. The meeting was co-convened by Mr Joshua Law, the Director-General of Trade and Industry and Mr Wang Liao-ping, Director-General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC). Both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including trade prospects in the Mainland and Hong Kong, the promotion of professional services, and legislation on chemical residues in the bodies of food animals in Hong Kong.

Mr Joshua Law said that in keeping with the well established spirit of cooperation, both sides exchanged views on trade issues of mutual concern under a friendly atmosphere.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the latest external trade situation in Hong Kong and the Mainland, and had some preliminary exchanges on the prospects of trade and economic development taking into account the current state of international affairs.

Mr Frederick Lam, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, briefed the TWG on the promotion of professional services in Hong Kong. Both sides agreed that professional services provided by the HKSAR would facilitate the development of enterprises in the Mainland. It was agreed that both sides could further exchange views on this issue in the future.

The Hong Kong delegation introduced to the Mainland delegation the legislation on chemical residues in the bodies of food animals. The HKSAR delegates explained the background and the content of the amendment regulation, and the legislative timetable. In response, the Mainland delegates made constructive proposals on arrangements to complement the implementation of the new regulation.

The two sides reviewed the recent development of processing trade policy. Mr Joshua Law said, "We are grateful for the assistance of MOFTEC in this issue. We hope that both sides will make good use of the TWG mechanism to enhance liaison, to give early notice and to reflect views on issues of mutual interest, and also to strengthen exchange of information with a view to promoting trade between the Mainland and Hong Kong."

The Mainland Convenor of the TWG, Mr. Wang Liao-ping said, "The 4th meeting of the TWG was conducted in a friendly and pragmatic atmosphere. Both sides agreed to strengthen communication and exchanges to promote economic and trade development between Mainland and Hong Kong."

At the margins of the meeting, a seminar was arranged between the TWG and Hong Kong businessmen to exchange views on Hong Kong enterprises' investment and business operations in the Mainland.

Both sides agreed to hold the 5th meeting of TWG in Beijing in December 2001.