Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

Measures relevant to IT Industry

1. Computer and related services

The Agreement on Trade in Services covers and consolidates commitments relating to liberalisation of trade in services provided in CEPA and its Supplements and also the Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Achieving Basic Liberalisation of Trade in Services in Guangdong.

Liberalisation Measures under Cross-border Services (Positive List)

Sectors or Sub-sectors

1. Business services

B. Computer and Related Services

Specific commitments

1. To allow Hong Kong service suppliers to provide cross-boundary database services in Qianhai and Hengqin on a pilot basis.
2. To allow contractual service providers employed by Hong Kong service suppliers, in the mode of movement of natural persons, to provide services under this sector or sub-sector in the Mainland.

Reserved Restrictive Measures under Commercial Presence (Negative List)

Sector:	1. Business services
Sub-sector:	B. Computer and Related Services Consultancy services related to the installation of computer hardware (CPC841) Software implementation services (CPC842) Data processing services (CPC843) Database services (CPC844, except network operation services and value-added network services) Other (CPC845+849)
Obligations concerned:	National Treatment
Reserved Restrictive Measures:	Commercial Presence Apply national treatment.

For details of Computer and Related Services, please refer to the Trade and Industry Department (TID)’s web page:

(https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/tradeservices/com_liberalization.html)

 

2. Individually owned stores that provide computer repair services, computer services and software services

According to the Agreement on Trade in Services under CEPA, Hong Kong permanent residents with Chinese citizenship are allowed to set up, in accordance with the relevant Mainland laws, regulations and administrative regulations, individually owned stores in all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government in the Mainland without being subject to the approval procedures applicable to foreign investments, excluding franchising operation. There are no restrictions on the number of persons engaged in the operation and the business area of individually owned stores.

Scope of business includes: software development; information system integration services; information technology consulting services; data processing and storage services (only limited to business of offline data processing services); repair of computers and auxiliary equipment.

The identity authentication requirements on Hong Kong permanent residents setting up, in accordance with the relevant Mainland laws, regulations and administrative regulations are lifted for individually owned stores.

For details of the Individually Owned Stores, please refer to the TID's web page:
(https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/tradeservices/own_liberalization.html)

 

3. Professional and technical personnel qualification examinations on computer technology and software

According to the Agreement on Trade in Services under CEPA, eligible Hong Kong residents are allowed to take a wide range of qualification examinations for professionals and technicians in the Mainland, including the qualification examinations on computer technology and software. An examination centre has been established in Hong Kong to facilitate Hong Kong IT professionals to take the Qualification Certificate of Computer and Software Technology Proficiency locally.

For details of the Professional and Technical Personnel Qualification Examinations, please refer to the TID’s web page:
(https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/tradeservices/pro_liberalization.html)

For information about the Qualification Certificate of Computer and Software Technology Proficiency, please refer to its web page:
(https://www.ruankao.org.cn/introduction/main.html)

For details of the examination arrangement in Hong Kong, please refer to the Asian Pacific Education Exchange Centre’s web page:
(http://www.apec.org.hk/BigMenu.asp?Bid=4)

 

4. Mutual recognition of electronic signature certificates issued by Hong Kong and Guangdong

According to the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation under CEPA, the Mainland and Hong Kong continued to promote electronic signature certificates that comply with the mutual recognition certificate policy to ensure the security and reliability of cross-border electronic transactions, in order to further strengthening cooperation in the area of electronic commerce.

Details can be found in “Mutual Recognition of Electronic Signature Certificates issued by Hong Kong and Guangdong” web page:
(https://www.digitalpolicy.gov.hk/en/our_work/digital_infrastructure/mainland/cepa/mr_ecert/index.html)

For details of the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, please refer to the TID's web page:
(https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/legaltext/cepa15.html)

 

Other Relevant Information about CEPA

You may access the CEPA web page of the Trade and Industry Department (TID) for other relevant information about CEPA.