Hong Kong's IT firms will be able to expand into the Mainland and enhance technological and business co-operation with their counterparts there under phase two of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, to be implemented in January.

Attending a seminar in Shenzhen today, Deputy Government Chief Information Officer (Planning & Strategy) Betty Fung said application and implementation arrangements are being discussed for the computer information system integration certification scheme to be applied to Hong Kong service suppliers. Details will be announced in December.

Almost 100 representatives from the local information technology sector attended the seminar to exchange views with Mainland officials on the arrangements for applying for Mainland system integration qualification certification.

Companies offering system integration services on the Mainland are required to obtain qualification certification, which is divided into four levels of capability.

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Under CEPA II announced on August 27, Hong Kong service suppliers will be allowed to apply for qualification certification.

IT is one of the eight new trade liberalisation service areas included in CEPA II. System integration refers to the overall planning, design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer application systems and network system projects.

Apart from the liberalisation of qualification certification, CEPA also allows Hong Kong residents to sit for exams in Hong Kong for Mainland professional qualifications in computing technology and software. An examination management centre has opened to administer the relevant qualification examination.

Hong Kong service suppliers are allowed to set up Internet culture business units and online service premises on the Mainland to import and host online games on the Mainland.