The Standard | 20 February 2025
China pledges to support customs autonomy as free trade pact expands
China has vowed to support Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory, enabling it to sign more free-trade pacts and partnerships.
The pledge came at a forum held by the Hong Kong government and China's Ministry of Commerce to introduce the new amendment under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.
Fan Shijie, director-general of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, said that the ministry would implement various preferential measures and strengthen cooperation under the agreement.
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The ministry also supports global investors accessing the mainland market through Hong Kong and encourages more local firms to take part in exhibitions to tap into the mainland market, he said.
Permanent secretary for commerce and economic development Maggie Wong Siu-chu said the government "needs to safeguard free trade and the multilateral trading system, amid rising challenges from unilateralism and protectionism."
The new amendment includes Hong Kong's legal and arbitration measures into the CEPA to facilitate Hong Kong investors.
Roden Tong Man-lung, the president of the Law Society of Hong Kong, said the pilot cities for Hong Kong under the legal amendment are Shenzhen and Zhuhai, while arbitration will be extended to nine cities in the Greater Bay Area.
If the pilot proves successful, the central government is expected to consider expanding the measures to other cities on the mainland, he added.
Hong Kong and the mainland signed the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services last October, which takes effect on March 1.
