Press Releases

The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Consultative Committee on Economic and Trade Co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland:

     The Consultative Committee on Economic and Trade Co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland held its second meeting today (February 18). The Committee endorsed reports of the three sub-groups formed under the Committee, and was briefed on Mainland co-operation-related policy initiatives under the 2014 Policy Address, as well as the progress of liberalisation of trade between Hong Kong and the Mainland under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

     The Committee Chairman, Mr Jack So, said, "In just a few months after the last Committee meeting, the three sub-groups had drawn up their respective work plans which were unanimously endorsed by the Committee at today's meeting.

     "In the coming year, the Trade Liberalisation and Investment Facilitation Sub-group headed by Dr Henry Cheng will explore areas in which co-operation between the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government and its counterparts in the Mainland can be strengthened to provide active support to Hong Kong enterprises in capitalising on the opportunities arising from the development of Nansha of Guangzhou, Hengqin of Zhuhai, Qianhai of Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau Loop area, and from the early and basic achievement of liberalisation of trade in services between Hong Kong and Guangdong in 2014, with a view to developing concrete recommendations to the SAR Government.

     "The Development of the Mainland Market by the Professional Services Sector Sub-group under the chairmanship of Dr Joseph Lee will examine possible measures to assist the local professional sector, in particular the accounting, legal, construction and related professional services, in capitalising on the opportunities arising from the development of Guangdong (including Nansha, Hengqin and Qianhai) and the Lok Ma Chau Loop area. This sub-group will also identify other high value-added non-traditional industries with development potential, such as design, with a view to advising the SAR Government on measures to foster co-operation with the Guangdong Provincial Government and broaden the market for Hong Kong services in the Mainland.

     "Finally, the Employment and Development Prospects of Youth in the Mainland Sub-group headed by Dr Peter Lam will in this year complement the work of the other two sub-groups to explore employment and development opportunities for our young people in Guangdong Province, particularly in Nansha, Hengqin and Qianhai, and the Lok Ma Chau Loop area. The sub-group would work with Hong Kong enterprises and chambers of commerce to seek more training and internship opportunities for Hong Kong students, including those studying in the Mainland.

     "In the coming year, the three sub-groups will conduct studies in different aspects in accordance with their work plans, with the aim of putting forward concrete and practical recommendations to the SAR Government around the end of this year."

     Mr So added, "The Committee was briefed by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau today on the SAR Government's plan to expand its network of offices and liaison units in the Mainland, as announced in the 2014 Policy Address. The Committee supports the initiative, and agrees that Shenyang City, being the provincial capital city of Liaoning Province, is a suitable location for setting up a liaison unit in the northern region to assist Hong Kong enterprises in capitalising on the opportunities arising from the rapid development of that region. On the briefing about the Trade and Industry Department's efforts in pursuing the liberalisation of trade in services between the Mainland and Hong Kong under CEPA, the Committee noted the importance of such efforts to the local business sector, especially the services sector, and expressed the wish that the SAR Government could expedite its work."

     The Committee was formally set up in October last year, with the Chief Executive appointing 26 non-official members who have extensive knowledge and practical experience in economic and trade co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland to the Committee. At its first meeting on October 25 last year, the Committee endorsed the forming of three sub-groups to focus on trade liberalisation and investment facilitation, access of professional services to the Mainland market, and employment and development prospects for Hong Kong young people in the Mainland.

Ends/Tuesday, February 18, 2014