RTR4LCQC.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced that the government will further seek market liberalization for trade services in mainland China in 2015.
Ninety percent of the gross domestic product of Hong Kong comes from the service sector accounts, which are a very important component of their economy, said Leung.
The Hong Kong government and the Ministry of Commerce signed the agreement between the mainland and Hong Kong on Achieving Basic Liberalization of Trade in Services in Guangdong, the Global Times reported.
"We will continue our earnest efforts to seek further market liberalization in the mainland with a view to achieving basic liberalization of trade in services between the entire mainland and Hong Kong by the end of this year," Leung added.
In Dec. 2014, the central government reported that three more pilot free trade zones will be established on March 1, 2015.
Leung pointed out that with Guangdong Pilot FTZ which will cover new areas of Nansha, Qianhai and Hengqin, Hong Kong can leverage support to promote cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Qianhai is adjacent to Hong Kong and Nansha is the largest of the three areas.
"The room for business and development for people and enterprises of Hong Kong will be vastly expanded," the chief executive said.
The government will maintain close collaboration with the Guangdong provincial government throughout the planning and development of the three new areas to actively pursue new modes of cooperation, the most favorable treatment, and the biggest development opportunity for Hong Kong people and enterprises, he added.
