Top teamwork: Financial Secretary Henry Tang and Ministry of Commerce Vice Minister An Min meet the press after co-chairing the CEPA High Level Conference on Professional Services in Beijing.

Substantive progress has been made in enabling Hong Kong's professional services to benefit from the new and huge opportunities brought by CEPA, Financial Secretary Henry Tang says.

Speaking after the CEPA High Level Conference on Professional Services today in Beijing, Mr Tang said the meeting provided a useful forum for Hong Kong professional bodies to have formal discussion with relevant Mainland authorities on issues of interest, such as the recognition of professional qualifications.

"What we have started is a continuous process. We encourage our professional bodies to continue their discussions with the relevant ministries on the Mainland in future," Mr Tang said.

"With the channels established or reinforced as a result of the conference, I believe we have paved the way for a new era of mutually beneficial co-operation in the development of professional services in the two places."

Areas of improvement

* A mutual recognition agreement has been reached between the HK Institute of Architects and the National Administration Board of Architectural Registration;

* a draft mutual recognition agreement has also been drawn up between the HK Institution of Engineers and the National Administration Board of Engineering Registration (Structural);

* insurance regulators have signed an agreement on measures to facilitate Hong Kong residents to take the Mainland Insurance Practitioners Qualifying Examinations. It is hoped the relevant measures can be implemented within the year;

* both sides will continue to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement on simplifying procedures for attaining securities and futures professional qualifications;

* discussion on proposals to facilitate Hong Kong's accountants to enter the Mainland market will follow. Both sides have also agreed to further study the concept of 'practicing in association' and the provision of book-keeping services;

* proposals have been made by the Hong Kong legal services sector to lower the qualification requirements for Hong Kong lawyers to qualify and practice as Mainland lawyers. Both sides have agreed to hold further meetings on the issue; and,

* both sides have agreed to continue discussion in areas like mutual recognition of professional qualifications with a view to progressively achieving liberalisation of trade in medical and dental services.