Hong Kong’s bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has moved into its accession process after RCEP economies approved an Accession Working Group on 21 September. The decision creates a forum for examining applications and conducting negotiations, but does not itself make Hong Kong a member of the trade pact.
The Hong Kong government welcomed the move. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau described the working group as a “pivotal step” in enlarging RCEP and said Hong Kong would actively take part in its work, including accession negotiations with RCEP members. He said the government aimed to complete all the required procedures as soon as possible and that Hong Kong was fully prepared for early accession.
Ming Pao reported that RCEP economies had circulated a detailed questionnaire on applicant economies’ applications. The statement issued after the ASEAN and RCEP meetings did not specify a timetable, leaving the pace of the process open.
RTHK reported that Bangladesh, Chile and Sri Lanka were also admitted to the working group alongside Hong Kong. The group covers several applications as RCEP considers how to expand a bloc that currently has 15 member economies, including the Chinese mainland, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 ASEAN members.
Hong Kong submitted its application in January 2022, the same month RCEP entered into force, and Ming Pao reported that it was the first economy to apply.