The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong signed the third supplementary agreement of the mainland/ Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), a senior official from the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday morning.

According to the supplementary accord released Thursday, the Chinese mainland will further open its services and trade sectors to Hong Kong and the two sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment facilitation.

As of Jan. 1, 2007, the Chinese mainland will take 15 new concrete measures to further open the services and trade sectors to Hong Kong, including law, exhibition and convention, information technology, audio-visual, construction, distribution, tourism, transportation as well as individual industry and commerce, according to the agreement.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2006)