HKSAR business sector urges more qualification recognition
The central government should consider expanding the scope of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the mainland, a major political party in the special administrative region suggested on Wednesday.
Lo Wai-kwok, chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, said doing so would make it more convenient for Hong Kong professionals to head north for career development and contribute to the country’s overall development with their expertise.
It would also attract more mainland professionals to Hong Kong, said Lo, who is also a Hong Kong lawmaker for the Engineering functional constituency.
The party offered suggestions to the central government on ways to enhance the successful implementation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development plan.
The BPA called for a more comprehensive mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the mainland, especially in constructionrelated professions such as geotechnical engineering, building services engineering, landscape architecture and land surveying.
Although Hong Kong people are allowed to take mainland qualification examinations for 33 professions, obstacles still exist on qualification recognition in many professions, according to the party.
According to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and its supplements, Hong Kong permanent residents are allowed to participate in a wide range of qualification examinations for professionals and technicians on the mainland, including the medical, pharmacist, legal, insurance, engineering, real-estate valuation and accounting sectors.
Lo, a former president of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, said receiving approval from the central government for such an expansion is “of great possibility”, as the nation’s Ministry of Housing and UrbanRural Development has responded positively regarding similar affairs.
In April, Lo and fellow lawmaker Tse Wai-chuen, both members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the nation’s top political advisory body, submitted a letter to the ministry. In the letter, they suggested the ministry phase out restrictions hindering Hong Kong professionals from participating in construction projects on the mainland.
Currently, construction and engineering enterprises using all Hong Kong capital can bid only on mainland projects that include overseas investments. They cannot compete for projects with only mainland capital involved.
Two months later, the ministry responded that they attached high importance to the suggestion. The ministry will consider removing such restrictions under the framework of CEPA, according to the reply.
Moreover, the party proposed to remove restrictions on Hong Kong accountants and lawyers conducting business on the mainland, to better contribute to Bay Area’s development.
As one of the liberalization measures under CEPA, Hong Kong legal practitioners are allowed to be employed by mainland law firms. But they are still prohibited from handling matters of mainland law.
Other suggestions include housing solutions for Hong Kong youth working on the mainland, an upgraded mainland internship scheme for Hong Kong young people and an electronic identification system to make it easier for people to travel between the mainland and Hong Kong.