Cepa has helped professionals
I refer to the report ('HK left short-changed by Cepa', August 29).
The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement adopts a building block approach for progressive trade liberalisation. It has brought many economic benefits. To illustrate, from 2007 to 2009, Cepa-induced business receipts obtained by operations established by Hong Kong service suppliers on the mainland and by Hong Kong companies amounted to about HK$198.5 billion and HK$55.1 billion respectively. Cepa has also offered Hong Kong service suppliers better market access than that available to other investors in many service sectors.
On medical services, qualified Hong Kong doctors are allowed to practise on the mainland through accreditation. As of July 2011, some 10 specialist doctors have obtained a mainland practice licence and 10 certificates of approval have been issued to Hong Kong service suppliers to set up outpatient clinics in Guangdong.
For construction services, Hong Kong architects and structural engineers, who have obtained the mainland's relevant qualification by mutual recognition, are allowed to register and practise in Guangdong regardless of whether they are registered practitioners in Hong Kong. Registration procedures for Hong Kong architects and structural engineers issued early this year require, among other things, passing a test on related regulations. The first test scheduled this month has received a good response.
For lawyers, liberalisation measures are provided in a progressive manner. Hong Kong permanent residents with Chinese citizenship are allowed to sit for the National Judicial Examination. Since 2005, they can sit for examination in Hong Kong. Those who have acquired a mainland legal professional qualification are allowed to engage in non-litigation legal work, and subsequently as agents in matrimonial and succession cases relating to Hong Kong.
Due to different regulatory regimes between Hong Kong and the mainland, we note that some professional sectors found the administrative procedures and requirements rather complicated. That said, in using Cepa benefits, Hong Kong enterprises have to comply with the rules and regulations of the mainland.