Economic and Trade Relations with the Mainland and Overseas Countries

Hong Kong and the Mainland

24.         The Government will strengthen Hong Kong's external trade and economic co-operation. For the Mainland, we will enhance G2G (Government-to-Government) co-operation and enhance our economic partnership with provinces and municipalities in the Mainland on all fronts. Hong Kong will have a role to play as a "node" and part of a network for the Mainland. By "node", I mean that Hong Kong will serve as an international financial centre and a business hub of our country. As "part of a network", Hong Kong will foster its co-operation with other provinces and municipalities in the Mainland. We will also take full advantage of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

25.         I proposed in my Manifesto that a new joint working group be set up under CEPA. We have reached consensus with the Ministry of Commerce on enhancing the existing mechanism for the implementation of CEPA by setting up an additional joint working group. The Mainland side of the joint working group will be led by the Ministry of Commerce, with participation of relevant Central People's Government (CPG) ministries and municipal governments. The Hong Kong side will be led by the Trade and Industry Department. The joint working group will provide targeted assistance to sectors which have encountered relatively more entry barriers, according to the feedback from the sectors concerned, with emphasis on assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

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