HKSAR Government warmly welcomes substantial conclusion of consultations for further liberalisation of trade in services under CEPA

2024-07-01 15:02 Last Updated At：15:43

Mainland and hong kong reach consensus on further liberalisation of trade in services under cepa agreement, boosting opportunities for hong kong enterprises and professionals

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (July 1) welcomed the substantial conclusion of the consultations between the Ministry of Commerce and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for further liberalisation of trade in services under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), and looked forward to finalising the text for the new agreement as soon as possible by the two sides and formally signing and implementing the agreement after completion of respective internal approval procedures. Details of the measures will be then announced.

After months of consultations, the two sides have largely reached consensus on new measures to further liberalise the Mainland's trade in services with Hong Kong. The new liberalisation measures target service sectors that Hong Kong enjoys competitive advantages and expand the Mainland's liberalisation to Hong Kong, giving Hong Kong enterprises and professionals more preferential treatment to explore the Mainland market, and at the same time enabling them to make contribution to the country's development of new quality productive forces and solid progress in promoting high-quality development.

Mr Lee said, "I am very grateful to the Central Government for its strong support to the HKSAR. I also thank the Ministry of Commerce and the relevant central ministries for the positive response to the HKSAR Government's proposals for liberalisation of trade in services. In the past 21 years, CEPA reinforced Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world and enhanced Hong Kong's competitiveness. I pledged in my 2023 Policy Address to actively seek to enrich the contents of CEPA and I am pleased to have achieved concrete outcomes in this respect. The new amendments to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services will further deepen economic and trade co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and provide the trade with greater room for development, allowing them to better tap into the vast business opportunities brought about by the rapid development of the country as well as the national and international dual circulation strategy, which carries great significance."

The Mainland and Hong Kong signed the Agreement on Trade in Services under the CEPA framework in November 2015 to basically achieve liberalisation of trade in services between the two places. Subsequently, the two sides signed in November 2019 the Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services to further liberalise the Mainland's trade in services with Hong Kong. Under the current framework of the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services, the Mainland fully or partially opens up 153 service sectors to Hong Kong's service industry, enabling Hong Kong enterprises and professionals to enjoy preferential treatment in developing their business in the Mainland. The subject consultations aim to modify the Agreement on Trade in Services to further enhance and deepen the Mainland's level of liberalisation of trade in services with Hong Kong.

SCS begins visit to Beijing

2024-07-02 20:23 Last Updated At：20:38

Civil service secretary mrs ingrid yeung explores short video platform trends in beijing, emphasizes importance of information technology development for publicity and promotion

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, began her visit in Beijing today (July 2). She called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) and visited a short video live streaming platform company.

Mrs Yeung and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, called on Deputy Director of the HKMAO Mr Wang Linggui in the morning and introduced to him the latest situation and work progress on civil service matters in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Mrs Yeung and other officials went to the headquarters of Kuaishou in the afternoon where they toured around the office facilities and broadcasting centre. They also had a meeting with the senior executives of Beijing Kuaishou Technology Company Ltd to learn about the latest trends and experiences in short video and live streaming platforms.

She said, "With the advent of the 5G Internet era, various short video platforms have emerged and flourished, with short videos disseminating information at high speed and with an increasingly wide reach. In addition to e-commerce, live streaming platforms are now also being used for recruitment of certain jobs and even the promotion of public affairs. We should pay attention to the trend of development of information technology to gain a better understanding of it for inspirations in publicity and promotion."

Mrs Yeung will visit the School of Government of Peking University and attend the graduation ceremony of the inaugural cohort of the Master's Degree in Public Policy Programme co-organised by the HKSAR Government and Peking University for senior civil servants of the HKSAR tomorrow. She will also meet with the graduates and the HKSAR civil servants who are currently studying in the University.