Official with Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Sep 14, 2005 that details concerning wider access of Hong Kong SAR to China's mainland market, under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), are expected to be announced next month in October.

Starting from next January on, the Chinese mainland is likely to adopt the policy of "zero tariff" on all products originated from Hong Kong. Besides that, several service sectors will be further opened up, including tourism, construction as well as financial and transport.

Before that, An Min, Vice Minister of Commerce said during an interview that even further opening-up, if acceptable to both the mainland and HK, could be made possible by CEPA.

CEPA was officially launched in January 2004. Later in August that year, the mainland and Hong Kong signed a supplementary agreement to CEPA, ensuring "zero tariff" to the second batch of productions from Hong Kong and a wider door to the mainland's service market.

Currently a total of 26 service trades on Chinese mainland are open to Hong Kong businesses within the framework of the CEPA.

By People's Daily Online