Across China: Hong Kong

Easier access to mainland

The central government and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region recently signed the sixth supplement to the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) to give Hong Kong firms greater and easier access to the mainland market for tourism, securities and banking services, among others.

The total number of services sectors covered by the CEPA and its supplements will increase from 40 to 42. Under the agreements, mainland has agreed to exempt tariffs for products of Hong Kong origin and allow preferential treatment to its suppliers in the service sectors.

(China Daily 05/18/2009 page5)