**********************************************
The 10th anniversary of the landmark Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) has heralded a new chapter for fostering economic and trade co-operation of the two places with the signing of Supplement X to CEPA on August 29.
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and the Vice Minister of Commerce, Ms Gao Yan, signed Supplement X which includes 73 services liberalisation and trade and investment facilitation measures that further relax market access conditions in the sectors already covered under previous supplements to CEPA. Besides, there are additional liberalisation measures on duplicating and after-death facilities services. This takes the total number of liberalisation measures for trade in services under CEPA to 403.
Supplement X is the supplement which contains the greatest number of measures since CEPA was signed in 2003. Some measures are more liberalised than those contained in recent years' supplements and some have been much sought-after by the trade for years.
Supplement X opens up new opportunities for services liberalisation in key areas including legal services, financial services, testing and certification, audiovisual and telecommunications. It also identifies financial co-operation and trade and investment facilitation as specific areas for further collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
The new measures relating to the liberalisation of trade in services under Supplement X will take effect from January 1, 2014.
To find out more about CEPA and how it can benefit your business, please visit the Trade and Industry Department's CEPA website at www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/index.html .
CEPA is the most liberalised free trade agreement signed by the Mainland creating new market access opportunities for both sides to achieve a win-win result. Supplement X marks the 10th anniversary of CEPA, highlighting the ongoing commitment of both Hong Kong and the Mainland to eliminate barriers on trade in goods and trade in services and continually build on the success of the CEPA signed in 2003.
Ends/Monday, September 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:38
NNNN
