Commerce minister: Central gov´t working to help Hong Kong expand mainland market

Source: Xinhua | 03-10-2009 15:43

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The central government is taking measures to help Hong Kong businesses tap mainland market as external demand weakening amid global financial crisis, China's Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Tuesday.

The central government would enable Hong Kong-funded companies engaged in processing trade to sell their export-oriented products on the mainland, he said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's legislative body.

As many such companies were registered in Hong Kong or other regions outside the mainland, they should take time to go through certain procedures, according to Chen.

These companies should also pay back customs rebates on imported equipments and materials before they could sell their products on the mainland, he said.