CEPA working group meets

June 19, 2013

The Joint Working Group under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) held its first meeting in Guangzhou yesterday.
 
Representatives of the Hong Kong, Central, and Guangdong Governments held interactive discussions, and tabled positive and constructive recommendations to address issues relating to the implementation of CEPA in Guangdong.
 
The two sides agreed to continue promoting the effective implementation of CEPA and help Hong Kong enterprises gain access to the Mainland market. They also pledged to maintain close co-operation to help businesses make good use of CEPA through enhancing transparency and providing more facilitation measures.
 
Work will be done to help Hong Kong films enter the Guangdong market faster.
 
Mainland authorities will initiate steps to make suitable amendments to the requirements of audit experience for becoming partners of accounting firms in Qianhai.
 
Other measures agreed at the meeting include assisting architectural professionals in the area of construction services to apply for registration to practice in Guangdong; expediting arrangements to enable Hong Kong's general practice surveyors and Mainland real estate appraisers who obtained the other side's qualifications to register for practice on the Mainland and in Hong Kong; and, assisting Hong Kong healthcare professionals to set up practices on the Mainland.
 
Good progress has been made on concrete ways to enable Hong Kong service suppliers to make use of CEPA to apply for property management company qualifications on the Mainland.
 
The Hong Kong delegation comprised representatives from the Trade & Industry Department, the Development Bureau, the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, the Food & Health Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the Home Affairs Department, and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Guangdong.