HKGCC Chairman Christopher Cheng and chairmen of three other local business organisations met with CCPIT Chairman Yu Xiaosong on April 4 to review the first year of operations of the Hongkong-Mainland Joint Business Liaison Committee (JBLC) and to discuss the future direction of the organisation in 2002.

JBLC was set up in April 2001 to provide an efficient communication channel for businesses in Hong Kong and the Mainland to help solve any difficulties that they may encounter. It also acts as a window to help enterprises keep up to date on the rapidly changing business environment in the Mainland.

As HKGCC took up the work as the committee's secretariat for the Hong Kong side during its first year of operations, Mr Cheng briefed delegates on developments over the past 12 months.

Upon its establishment, one of the most pressing tasks was to set up a hotline (2117 1221), which now receives dozens of phone inquiries per month. The committee also set up a Web site (www.hkchinabiz.org.hk), which has proven to be an effective vehicle to disseminate timely updates on changes to laws and regulations on the Mainland. It has also allowed businesses to keep abreast of the Mainland's rapidly changing trade and investment landscape. The site now averages over 1,300 page views per month.

Calls mostly involved inquiries or complaints covering rules and regulations on joint ventures, IPR, customs, labour laws and trading rights. All inquiries were addressed and followed up by the Chamber and the Mainland secretariat, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

JBLC also played an important role in fostering closer economic cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. In April last year, a delegation made up of leaders from the participating organisations met State Council Vice Premier Li Lanqing. They expressed the local business community's hope that a regional trade agreement with China could be established.

The committee was pleased to note that HKSAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa formally submitted the proposal, which is now named "Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)," to the Central Government in November 2001. Both governments welcomed the proposal and ongoing consultations are making good progress. All parties expressed their wish that the arrangement be implemented as soon as possible.

For the coming year, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association (CMA) of Hong Kong will take up the role of JBLC's Hong Kong secretariat. CMA President Chan Wing-kee said CMA will intensify collaboration with its Mainland counterpart and continue to help local and Mainland enterprises settle trade disputes, facilitate information exchanges and enhance communications.

JBLC was established in Beijing in April 2001 by HKGCC, CMA, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries with their Chinese counterparts, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the China Chamber of International Commerce. Its goal is to build an efficient communication channel for businesses in Hong Kong and the Mainland to help solve any difficulties they may encounter.