ENG-2011 — Page 152

112 Commerce and Industry

been announced, covering a total of 47 service areas?. Under these measures, Hong Kong service suppliers enjoy preferential treatment in entering the Mainland's service industries. Some of the liberalisation and facilitation measures are for pilot implementation in Guangdong Province.

The Government will continue to help the business community tap the opportunities brought about by CEPA. Close liaison is maintained with the Mainland authorities at different levels through various government bureaux and departments, the Beijing Office of the HKSAR Government, and Hong Kong ETOs in the Mainland to help ensure smooth implementation of measures under CEPA. High-level communication is also maintained through forums such as the CEPA Joint Steering Committee and the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. Quasi-government bodies including the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) also assist in the promotion of CEPA.

In addition, with the Mainland policy of expansion of domestic demand, the Government has been working with Mainland authorities in recent years to assist Hong Kong enterprises in tapping the Mainland market. These include conveying the trade's views on domestic sales to the Mainland authorities, and organising more business matching event and trade fairs in the Mainland provinces and cities, mainly through the HKTDC, with a view to enhancing the awareness over Hong Kong brand products.

Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements

To assure overseas investors that their investments in Hong Kong are adequately protected, and to enable Hong Kong investors to enjoy similar protection overseas, Hong Kong has concluded Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements with 17 economies. The Government will continue to explore opportunities to sign relevant agreements with other economies.

Trade in Textiles

Hong Kong continues to capitalise on its expertise and immense potential to develop into a world-class logistics and sourcing hub for textiles. At the same time, Hong Kong continues to maintain highly effective origin control measures to prevent abuse and to safeguard the interest of Hong Kong's textiles trade.

2 These service areas are: accounting, advertising, air transport, audiovisual, banking, building-cleaning, computer and related services, construction and related engineering, convention and exhibition, cultural, distribution, environmental, examinations for professional and technical qualification, freight forwarding agency, individually owned stores, insurance, inter-disciplinary research and experimental development services, legal, library, museum and other cultural services, logistics, management consulting, maritime transport, market research, medical, patent agency, photographic, placement and supply services of personnel, printing, public utility, rail transport, real estate, related scientific and technical consulting services, research and development, road transport, securities and futures, services incidental to manufacturing, services incidental to mining, services related to management consulting, social services, specialty design, sporting, storage and warehousing, technical testing, analysis and product testing, telecommunications, tourism, trade mark agency, translation and interpretation.