SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN TODAY!

First Zero Tariff Shipment Under CEPA by HKGCC Member

HKGCC member Wing Li Holdings Limited went into the history books on January 7, 2004, as the first company to export made-in-Hongkong goods to the Mainland tariff free under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

The company, a member of HKGCC since 1989, was issued a CEPA CO from the Chamber to export 310,000 copies of Hong Kong manufactured compact discs worth HK$235,212. Under the arrangement, the company saved about HK$12,000 on import tariffs.

"We issued a CEPA CO to our member earlier in the week and we are extremely delighted to see everything has gone smoothly. This marks the first historic zero tariff shipment under CEPA," HKGCC CEO Dr Eden Woon told the media as the goods were being loaded for shipment at the company's factory in Chai Wan.

"We sincerely thank the support from related government departments and Mainland China border officials to our member. As a result, our member is able to enjoy the benefits of the made-in-Hongkong label under CEPA quickly," he added.

HKGCC's Senior Director for Certification WS Chan, Mainland customs officials and representatives from Hong Kong's Trade and Industry Department were at the Huanggang checkpoint to receive the historic shipment.

HKGCC first proposed in 2000 the concept of a free-trade agreement, later called CEPA, between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

"The Chamber has been playing a key role in getting CEPA to the current stage since some four years ago. We sincerely hope more companies will follow suit to take advantage of CEPA," said Dr Woon.


Photo Album