Press Release 2008

Seminar on services liberalisation under Supplement V to CEPA and Guangdong pilot measures
Monday, September 22, 2008

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG), the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the Provincial Government of Guangdong today (September 22) jointly organised a forum to announce details and implementation arrangements for services liberalisation measures under Supplement V to CEPA as well as the measures to start in Guangdong on a pilot basis. 

The forum, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, aimed to enhance the trade and relevant service providers' understanding of the business opportunities arising from the new round of liberalisation measures. The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, delivered opening remarks at the forum. The Vice-Minister of Commerce, Mr Jiang Zengwei, the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wan Qingliang, the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and representatives of relevant Mainland authorities also gave speeches. 

A delegation comprising over 70 representatives of various central ministries and the Provincial Government of Guangdong attended the forum to brief the trade on the new liberalisation measures under Supplement V to CEPA and the Guangdong pilot measures, as well as the implementation arrangements. About 300 people, including Hong Kong traders and professionals, attended the forum. 

Central ministries attending the forum included the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and the National Tourism Administration of the Central People's Government. Relevant departments of the Provincial Government of Guangdong were also represented. The forum included breakout sessions with Q&A discussions, at which officials from the Mainland gave presentations on the implementation arrangements and answered questions from the trade. 

The forum focused on a number of major services sectors, such as tourism, professional services (including accounting, medical and dental, construction and related engineering), environmental services, education, social services, transport and logistics, electronic business, advertising, distribution, individually owned stores, and placement and supply services of personnel. 

The HKSARG is committed to creating a favourable environment for Hong Kong enterprises to open up the Mainland market. CEPA has brought encouraging economic benefits to both the Mainland and Hong Kong. The HKSARG estimates that during the first three years since its implementation in 2003, CEPA has created for Hong Kong 36,000 new jobs, and brought additional capital investment of HK$5.1 billion. It also attracted investment from the Mainland and overseas. As at end 2007, over 900 Mainland enterprises were granted approval to invest in Hong Kong, with investment amounting to more than US$5.5 billion. 

Hong Kong enterprises have been capitalising on the benefits brought by CEPA in tapping the Mainland market. As at end August 2008, more than HK$14.5 billion worth of goods entered the Mainland market making use of the zero-tariff preferential treatment under CEPA, of which 65% was exported to Guangdong. As for trade in services, more than 2,000 Certificates of Hong Kong Service Suppliers have been issued. Hong Kong traders have enjoyed the benefits brought by CEPA when investing in relevant service industries on the Mainland. About 40% of the investments went to Guangdong. Meanwhile, more than 30 million trips were made by Mainland visitors to Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme, with about 80% of the applications coming from Guangdong.

For details of Supplement V to CEPA, please refer to the Trade and Industry Department's website at www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/index.html

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