The Chinese mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership
Arrangement (CEPA) became effective from zero hour Thursday with
the support of the central government and joint efforts of the
industry and commerce circles of both sides.?
Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, goods of Hong Kong origin which fall
into the Chinese mainland's 273 tariff categories enjoy zero tariff
treatment when entering into the mainland market.
Guo Li, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Chinese
People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR), visited Hong Kong's Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen's Huanggang
cargo boundary check points at zero hour Thursday.
At the cross border check points, she, on half of the liaison
office, congratulated the personnel of industry and commerce
circles of both sides on the formal operation of CEPA.
She said the central government has attached great importance to
the follow-up work after the signing of CEPA. The State Council has
informed related departments, provinces and cities of the
implementation of CEPA.
She said she believed that with the coordination of the Ministry of Commerce and
detailed preparations which have been made, CEPA can be implemented
smoothly.
Guo said CEPA meets the requirements for promoting the economic
development and economic and trade cooperation between the mainland
and Hong Kong and for dealing with the challenges brought about by
economic globalization.
She said that CEPA is also an important step to help Hong Kong
achieve economic recovery and to realize mutual prosperity of both
sides.
Guo said the implementation of CEPA is a milestone in the
economic cooperation process between the Chinese mainland and Hong
Kong and it indicates that their economic and trade relations have
entered into a new stage.
The Chinese mainland has arranged multi-level training courses
for customs officers for the implementation of CEPA, and the
computer monitoring system of the mainland customs has been linked
with that of the Hong Kong customs and is ready for operation.
Starting on Thursday, the customs of both sides will adopt
unified customs clearance forms.
The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong signed CEPA on June 29, 2003,
which covers three areas, namely commodities trade, services trade
and trade and investment facilitation.
The implementation and revision of the CEPA will be carried out
in accordance with the "one country, two systems" principle in line
with the rules of the World Trade Organization, conforming to the
needs of the two sides in readjusting and upgrading industrial
structure, and on the basis of mutual benefit.
??
As of Jan. 1, the mainland opens more of its service sectors to
Hong Kong. The areas that are open to Hong Kong cover management
and consultation, exhibition services, accounting, architecture and
real estate, medical services and distribution.?
In the areas of trade and investment facilitation, the mainland
and Hong Kong will strengthen cooperation in the following areas:
namely, trade and investment promotion, customs clearance,
commodities quarantine, inspection and quality certification,
e-commerce, transparency of laws and regulations, cooperation among
small- and medium-sized enterprises and the development of
traditional Chinese medicine.??
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2004)