A senior official from the Ministry of Commerce says the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, is running smooth and well. He hopes CEPA can provide more opportunities for Hong Kong and spur on the special administrative region's progress.

The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong signed the CEPA last June.

Under the arrangement, since January the 1st this year 273 categories of made-in-Hong Kong goods can enter the mainland market free of tariffs, with this extending to all product categories by 2006.

(CRI March 8, 2004)