Session No. 5 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2010-11
Question: The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) states that it will oversee the effective implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, including measures for early and pilot implementation in Guangdong, and to seek to conclude more market liberalisation and trade facilitation measures. In this connection, will the CEDB consult the trade and conduct studies before making recommendations to the Central Government as well as the Guangdong Provincial Government, so as to conclude liberalisation measures as many as possible? What are the details of the work plan and the resources involved? Asked by: Hon. LEE Wai-king, Starry Reply: The Government plays an active role in reflecting to the Mainland authorities problems encountered by the trade in making use of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (“CEPA”), and always strives to introduce more liberalization measures to facilitate the access of Hong Kong service suppliers to the Mainland services market. Before putting forth suggestions and views to the Mainland authorities, the Government always takes account of the demands and views of the local service industries/suppliers. In this regard, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development chairs CEPA consultative forums from time to time to gather views from the trade; individual bureaux and departments also maintain close liaison and dialogue with relevant service industries and professional bodies. In discussing with the Mainland authorities to further open up the service industries in the Mainland, where certain liberalisation or facilitation measures may not be implemented across the nation, we will seek to introduce such measures for early and pilot implementation in Guangdong Province. The CEPA-related work outlined above is carried out by a number of government agencies. The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch) is responsible for the overall policy on CEPA; the Trade and Industry Department oversees bilateral discussions on services liberalisation and implementation of the CEPA measures already announced; and individual bureaux and departments deal with liberalisation and implementation issues in specific service sectors. The resource requirements are absorbed by relevant bureaux/departments respectively, and we have not come up with the actual amount involved.
Question: What are the details and breakdown of the expenditure regarding the Administration’s initiative in assisting Hong Kong’s professional services to enter the Mainland market under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement in 2010-11? How do the figures compare with those of 2009-10? Asked by: Hon. LEE Wai-king, Starry Reply: The Government is committed to assisting Hong Kong professional services to enter the Mainland market under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (“CEPA”). We seek various preferential and facilitative measures for Hong Kong professional services providers, including opening up the Mainland professional qualification examinations to eligible Hong Kong residents, encouraging mutual recognition of professional qualifications, streamlining internship requirement, facilitating registration and practice, lowering the entry threshold, relaxing scope of services, setting up examination centres in Hong Kong or dedicated examination centres in Guangdong Province to make it more convenient for Hong Kong professionals to sit for the relevant Mainland qualification examinations, etc. We have also been actively addressing problems in implementing liberalisation measures related to professional services. During 2010-11, relevant bureaux and departments will, taking account of the requests and views of the trade and in respect of different professional sectors, discuss with the respective Mainland authorities to further facilitate the eligible Hong Kong residents or professionals in obtaining Mainland professional qualifications and registration, as well as in practicing and setting up businesses in the Mainland. We will also actively seek to resolve implementation problems in these areas. As a large number of bureaux and departments are involved in assisting Hong Kong professional services to enter the Mainland market, we do not have figures on the overall expenditure devoted to this area of work.
Directory: citb -> doc doc -> Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc Download 4.7 Mb. Share with your friends:
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