CEPA will benefit mainland, HK, Macao and Taiwan economies ( 2003-12-02 10:47) (China Daily HK Edition)
The economies of the
mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan should join hands to capitalize on the
opportunities provided by the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangements (CEPA),
experts suggested Monday.
Representatives from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan agreed
on this yesterday at a forum organized by the Hong Kong Junior Chamber to
explore CEPA opportunities among the four economies.
"Politicians should not sacrifice the economic benefits enjoyed by their
people to achieve their own ambitions," Paul Yip, former adviser to Chief
Executive Tung Chee-hwa, proclaimed, referring to the politicians who proposed
referendum legislation in Taiwan.
Yip, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute and a
member of InvestHK, said politicians should set politics aside and focus on
economic development.
Despite disagreeing to some extent, Taiwan representative Lin Chien-fu, a
professor at the National Taiwan University, concurred with the "economy first"
principle, adding that the economies of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan would
move closer and closer together in future.
Although the role of CEPA between the mainland and Taiwan is still under
discussion, Lin said both economies could benefit from zero tariffs, which could
in turn reduce costs.
Deng Hongbo, an economist with the Beijing WTO Affairs Centre, said
consumption expenditure on the mainland would also increase as 90 per cent of
imports from Hong Kong would enjoy zero tariffs.
The preferential treatment CEPA extends to the signatory regions may have a
crowding-out effect on the non-signatory regions. "But as long as the trade
volume is increasing, everybody will be satisfied," Lin said.
Hong Kong service providers, such as financial service companies, will also
be able to contribute more to the modernization of the mainland banking system,
making better use of capital and reducing the number of non-performing loans.
Following the collapse of the multilateral trade talks at the WTO conference
in Cancun, certain regions sought to negotiate bilateral trade agreements, such
as CEPA, to take advantage of specialization and free trade.
Macao legislative councillor Chui Sai-cheong said a great increase in
tourists was recorded in October after the mainland individual-tourist visa
scheme was implemented, compared with the same month last year. Macao's GDP
growth, which registered 12 per cent in 2001 and 9.5 per cent in 2002, has been
strong since its return to the mainland, compared to a negative 4 per cent
growth in 1999. He said he expected 9.5 per cent growth rate for 2003.
In terms of trade in services, CEPA allows Hong Kong service providers in 18
areas to enter the mainland market at least one year ahead of their foreign
competitors. The arrangement provides a platform for Hong Kong professionals to
practise on the mainland and also allows Hong Kong permanent residents to set up
individually owned retail stores in Guangdong Province.