The government is taking an important step forward in its ambitions to develop Hong Kong as a big player in the global wine market, with an agreement on mainland customs measures for wines exported from the city and a standardised accreditation system for storage facilities.
'As a wine trading hub in Asia, we need to uncork the potential market on the mainland, which is predicted to be an important growing market for wine in the next decade and beyond,' Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said at yesterday's launch of the second Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair.
'I am pleased to tell you that we have just reached agreement with the mainland customs to provide customs facilitation measures for wine exported from Hong Kong to the mainland.'
He said the government was also discussing with the mainland's food safety department - the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine - to see if further measures could be introduced.
'The government is facilitating the industry in launching a scheme for accrediting storage facilities which meet certain required standards. Such an accreditation system is essential to preserving the value of fine wine as an investment asset.
'The scheme is expected to be rolled out by the end of this year, and is likely to be the first of its kind anywhere.'
Hong Kong had been exploring the possibility of becoming the world's first city to establish a standard for wine storage facilities.
