CEPA is a clear demonstration of China’s commitment to the success of Hong Kong. As China is the fastest-growing economic region in the world, Hong Kong is still the best place in Asia for British companies to do business. 

Giovanni Orgera, President, Italian Chamber of Commerce

"I definitely welcome the signing of this agreement because it recognizes, at an institutional level, the role of Hong Kong as the major gateway to Greater China further enhancing the economic integration with the Mainland.

The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement represents a further support to develop the presence in the Chinese market of Italian companies that are operating in Hong Kong.

Cepa, in particular in view of the easing of the tariffs, constitutes an important instrument to ensure a more solid presence in China for those Italian companies that are already exporting   their products and services there".

Hans Olijve, Chairman, Dutch Business Association

"The recently signed CEPA agreement between Hong Kong and the Mainland will be considered  a boost for Hong Kong companies to benefit from the economic growth in the Mainland.

The agreement will certainly make it easier to invest in the Mainland due to easing of the regulations. It will also bolster Hong Kong's role as the mainland's backdoor. The real impact will be the greater access Hong Kong companies including the Hong Kong based subsidiaries of multinationals will have to the mainland in comparison to overseas companies.

The agreement will allow for instance Hong Kong retailers, wholesalers, distributors, logistics companies and shipping lines to set up wholly owned subsidiaries in the Mainland, more or less bypassing the WTO agreement. With regards to the logistics companies and shipping lines, we see a huge opportunity for subsidiaries of Dutch companies to set up their own organizations in the mainland so enabling them to profit directly from the demand for professional services linking the mainland via Hong Kong to the rest of the world.

Jim Thompson, Chairman, American Chamber of Commerce

"The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is very impressed to see the extent to which the CEPA Agreement accommodates access to the Chinese market for qualified Hong Kong companies.  It is a better agreement than we expected.

AmCham members now have real opportunities to further develop their business activities in China from their Hong Kong base. This increase in activity should result in more jobs in Hong Kong in the coming year and certainly solidifies Hong Kong as a regional base from which to manage growth in the China market".

Alan Johnson, Chairman, The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

"AustCham sees that CEPA will deliver great opportunities for Hong Kong business to expand into the China market. Australian business in Hong Kong is long established, making many of our companies well-positioned under the "Hong Kong firm" definition, particularly in the services industry.

The details of the agreement will be worked on in the next six months and it may be that opportunities become more evident but, in these early days, with the extent of information that we have received so far it does not appear that existing Australian companies doing business in Hong Kong will directly benefit from CEPA.

However, if CEPA is able to generate a higher level of activity and prosperity for traditional Hong Kong companies then Australian companies currently in Hong Kong or contemplating doing business in Hong Kong, will benefit from this improved economic environment."