World Trade Organisation Committee on Regional Trade Agreements will examine the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement at its meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17 and 18.

Mainland and Hong Kong government representatives will partake in the meeting.

The Hong Kong delegation, led by Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology Philip Yung, comprises officials from the bureau's Commerce & Industry Branch, the Trade & Industry Department, the Department of Justice, and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Geneva.

Notification

Under WTO requirements, all free trade agreements have to be notified to it and be subject to the examination of WTO members to ensure they are consistent with rules governing such agreements.

The Mainland and Hong Kong are two separate members of the WTO. CEPA is the first free trade agreement concluded by the two jurisdictions under the WTO framework for free trade agreements and was notified to the WTO in December 2003, and January this year.

The bureau will fully co-operate with the committee in the examination process and is confident CEPA will live up to the objectives and rules of the WTO for free trade agreements.