This is a brief assessment. For more detail, check www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa

NB. Any company that satisfies the Cepa-eligibility criteria can benefit, regardless of nationality.

Accounting: Permits allowing Hong Kong companies to conduct auditing services on the mainland will be valid for one year. Accounts from Hong Kong who have qualified and practised on the mainland will be treated as Mainland accountants.

Advertising: Firms from Hong Kong can establish wholly-owned advertising companies on the mainland.

Audiovisual: Chinese language movies produced in Hong Kong can be distributed on the mainland and be exempted from the quota of 20 films per year under China's World Trade Organisation commitments. Movies co-produced with the mainland will be treated as mainland films.

Banking: The asset requirement for banks to establish branches on the mainland is US$6 billion reduced from US$20 billion.

Conventions: Hong Kong companies can set up wholly owned operations, convention and exhibition services.

Construction and real estate: Hong Kong firms can set up wholly-owned operations.

Distribution (excluding tobacco): Hong Kong firms providing distribution services such as retailing or franchising can set up wholly-owned operations. Hong Kong car dealers can set up wholly-owned retail operations in the mainland with up to 30 outlets.

Freight forwarding: Hong Kong firms can operate on a wholly-owned basis and enjoy equal treatment as mainland companies for the minimum registered capital requirements.

Insurance:  Maximum limit of capital participation by a Hong Kong insurance firm in a mainland insurance firm is 24.9 per cent. Hong Kong insurance agents with mainland professional qualifications can practise there.

Legal: Hong Kong lawyers can work for mainland firms. Minimum requirements for Hong Kong representatives on the mainland are waived for those operating in Shenzhen and Guangzhou and shortened to two months for other areas.

Logistics: Hong Kong companies can set up wholly-owned operations on the mainland.

Management and consultancy: Most companies can set up wholly-owned enterprises on the mainland.

Medical and dental: Hong Kong doctors can work on the mainland for up to three years. Hong Kong medical workers can sit exams to work on the mainland.

Securities: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing can set up a representative office in Beijing.

Storage and warehousing: Hong Kong companies can operate on a wholly-owned basis on the mainland.

Telecommunications: Hong Kong companies can set up joint-venture enterprises on the mainland. There will be no geographic restriction for joint-venture enterprises formed by Hong Kong service suppliers and the mainland to provide value-added services.

Tourism: Hong Kong companies can run hotels or restaurants on the mainland on a wholly-owned basis.

Transport: Hong Kong companies can operate on the mainland on a wholly-owned basis.

For inquiries on rules of origin, certificate of origin and factory registration, phone
2398 5525 or email cepaco@tid.gov.hk

For enquiries on certificate of a Hong Kong service supplier phone 3403 6428 or email hkss@tid.gov.hk