Monthly Archives: September 2013

Out of the 18 policies that Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone; the only one that received a mention was the relaxation on the use of Facebook which isn’t even anything to do with free trade.

I have actually looked at the official government website and found the 18 new policies. Please find below.

I plugged this through Google Translate and it reads as follows:-

China Network Sept. 27 hearing, according to Chinese government network news , the State Council issued the China ( Shanghai ) test area overall scheme of free trade and expanding services announced liberalization measures covering six major areas of 18 industries open lists. Which allow designers to foreign professional health insurance agencies, allow the establishment of wholly foreign-owned international ship management companies , performing arts agencies , entertainment, health care institutions.

Under the program, Shanghai will expand the FTA services liberalization . Select financial services, shipping services , business services, professional services, cultural services, and opening wider field of social services ( specific opening listed in annex ) , suspend or cancel the qualification requirements of investors , equity ratio limits , restrictions on access to business scope restrictions ( banking institutions , except for information and communication services ) , create a favorable equal access to various types of investors in the market environment .

China ( Shanghai ) test area of free trade liberalization measures to expand services as follows:

First, the financial services sector

1 . Banking services ( national industry classification : J Financial Industry – 6620 Money and Banking Services )

Liberalization measures

( A ) allow qualified foreign financial institutions to establish foreign banks , in line with the conditions of private capital and foreign financial institutions to set up joint venture banks . When the conditions are met in a timely manner in the establishment of a limited pilot test area license banks .

( 2 ) the improvement of relevant management practices, strengthen the effective supervision of the premise, allowing qualified in the test area banks offering offshore business .

2 Professional health insurance ( national industry classification : J Financial Industry – 6812 health and accident insurance )

Liberalization measures

The establishment of foreign professional pilot health insurance agency.

3 Finance lease ( national industry classification : J Financial Industry – 6631 Financial Leasing Services )

Liberalization measures

( A ) financial leasing companies established in the test area stand-alone, single-ship subsidiary with no minimum registered capital requirements.

( 2 ) to allow leasing companies concurrently with the main business -related commercial factoring business .

Second, the shipping service areas

4 . Ocean cargo transportation ( national industry classification : G Transportation, storage and postal industry – 5521 Ocean freight )

Liberalization measures

( 1 ) relaxation joint ventures, Sino-foreign cooperative international shipping companies foreign equity restrictions , by the State Council department in charge of the development of relevant transport management pilot scheme .

( 2 ) to allow Chinese companies owned or controlled by a non- owned five-star flag ship , a pilot in the country of import and export containers between coastal ports and coastal Shanghai incidentally business.

5 International Ship Management ( national industry classification : G Transportation, storage and postal services – 5539 Other water transportation support services )

Liberalization measures

Allow the establishment of wholly foreign-owned international ship management companies .

Third, the business services sector

6 Value-added telecommunications ( national industry classification : I information transmission , software and information technology services – 6319 Other telecommunications services, Internet Information Services 6420 , 6540, data processing and storage services , 6592 Call Center )

Liberalization measures

The protection of network and information security under the premise of allowing foreign firms to operate certain forms part of the value-added telecommunications services, such as breakthrough involving administrative regulations shall be approved by the State Council agreed .

7 games, game machines sales and services ( national industry classification : F Wholesale and retail – 5179 Wholesale of other machinery and electronic goods )

Liberalization measures

Allow foreign companies engaged in gaming entertainment equipment production and sales, through cultural authorities examine the content of the game entertainment equipment available for the domestic market.

Fourth, professional services

8 Counsel Services ( national industry classification : L Leasing and Business Services – 7221 lawyers and legal services )

Liberalization measures

Explore closely with foreign law firms in China ( Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions ) law firm business cooperation modalities and mechanisms .

9 credit investigation ( national industry classification : L Leasing and Business Services – 7295 Credit Services )

Liberalization measures

Allow the establishment of foreign-invested credit investigation company .

10 travel agencies ( national industry classification : L Leasing and Business Services – 7271 Travel Service )

Liberalization measures

Registered in the test area allows qualified joint venture travel agencies , in addition to the Taiwan outbound tourism business outside the region .

11 personnel intermediary services ( national industry classification : L Leasing and Business Services – 7262 professional intermediary services )

Liberalization measures

( A ) allow the establishment of Sino-foreign talent agency , foreign joint ventures could have no more than 70 % of the shares ; allow Macao service suppliers to set up wholly talent agency .

( 2 ) foreign talent agency minimum registered capital requirements reduced by the $ 300,000 to $ 125,000 .

12 Investment Management ( national industry classification : L Leasing and Business Services – 7211 Corporate Headquarters Management )

Liberalization measures

Allow the establishment of joint-stock foreign investment companies .

13 Engineering Design ( Industrial Classification : M scientific research and technology services company – 7482 Engineering Survey and Design )

Liberalization measures

The test area to provide services for the Shanghai foreign engineering design ( not including engineering survey ) enterprises, cancel the first application when qualified investors engineering performance requirements .

14 Construction services ( national industry classification : E Construction – 47 Housing construction , 48 civil engineering construction, 49 construction and installation industry ,

50 architectural decoration and other construction )

Liberalization measures

The test area contracted foreign-owned construction enterprises in Shanghai Sino-foreign joint construction projects , from construction projects in the proportion of foreign investment restrictions .

Fifth, cultural services

15 performances broker ( national industry classification : R Culture, Sports and Entertainment – 8941 cultural entertainment broker )

Liberalization measures

Cancellation foreign performance agencies equity ratio limits , allow the establishment of wholly foreign-owned performing arts agencies , to provide services in Shanghai .

16 Entertainment ( national industry classification : R Culture , Sports and Entertainment – 8911 dance hall entertainment )

Liberalization measures

Allow the establishment of wholly foreign-owned entertainment , providing services in the test area .

Sixth, social services

17 education and training, vocational skills training ( national industry classification : P Education – 8291 Vocational Training )

Liberalization measures

( A ) to allow foreign cooperative education organized by training institutions .

( 2 ) to allow foreign cooperative operating organizing vocational training institutions .

18 Medical services ( national industry classification : Q Health and Social Work – 8311 General Hospital , 8315 hospital, outpatient department [ of 8330 ] )

Liberalization measures

Allow the establishment of wholly foreign-owned medical institutions. ( China Network Financial Center )

中国网9月27日讯 据中国政府网消息，国务院印发了中国(上海)自由贸易试验区总体方案，并公布了服务业扩大开放措施，涉及6大领域18个行业开放清单。其中，允许设外资专业健康医疗保险机构、允许设立外商独资国际船舶管理企业、演出经纪机构、娱乐场所、医疗机构等。

根据方案，上海自贸区将扩大服务业开放。选择金融服务、航运服务、商贸服务、专业服务、文化服务以及社会服务领域扩大开放(具体开放清单见附件)，暂停或取消投资者资质要求、股比限制、经营范围限制等准入限制措施(银行业机构、信息通信服务除外)，营造有利于各类投资者平等准入的市场环境。

中国(上海)自由贸易试验区服务业扩大开放措施如下：

一、金融服务领域

1.银行服务(国民经济行业分类：J 金融业——6620 货币银行服务)

开放措施

(1)允许符合条件的外资金融机构设立外资银行，符合条件的民营资本与外资金融机构共同设立中外合资银行。在条件具备时，适时在试验区内试点设立有限牌照银行。

(2)在完善相关管理办法，加强有效监管的前提下，允许试验区内符合条件的中资银行开办离岸业务。

2.专业健康医疗保险(国民经济行业分类：J 金融业——6812 健康和意外保险)

开放措施

试点设立外资专业健康医疗保险机构。

3.融资租赁(国民经济行业分类：J 金融业——6631 金融租赁服务)

开放措施

(1)融资租赁公司在试验区内设立的单机、单船子公司不设最低注册资本限制。

(2)允许融资租赁公司兼营与主营业务有关的商业保理业务。

二、航运服务领域

4.远洋货物运输(国民经济行业分类：G 交通运输、仓储和邮政业——5521 远洋货物运输)

开放措施

(1)放宽中外合资、中外合作国际船舶运输企业的外资股比限制，由国务院交通运输主管部门制定相关管理试行办法。

(2)允许中资公司拥有或控股拥有的非五星旗船，先行先试外贸进出口集装箱在国内沿海港口和上海港之间的沿海捎带业务。

5.国际船舶管理(国民经济行业分类：G 交通运输、仓储和邮政业——5539 其他水上运输辅助服务)

开放措施

允许设立外商独资国际船舶管理企业。

三、商贸服务领域

6.增值电信(国民经济行业分类：I 信息传输、软件和信息技术服务业——6319 其他电信业务，6420 互联网信息服务，6540 数据处理和存储服务，6592 呼叫中心)

开放措施

在保障网络信息安全的前提下，允许外资企业经营特定形式的部分增值电信业务，如涉及突破行政法规，须国务院批准同意。

7.游戏机、游艺机销售及服务(国民经济行业分类：F 批发和零售业——5179 其他机械及电子商品批发)

开放措施

允许外资企业从事游戏游艺设备的生产和销售，通过文化主管部门内容审查的游戏游艺设备可面向国内市场销售。

四、专业服务领域

8.律师服务(国民经济行业分类：L 租赁和商务服务业——7221 律师及相关法律服务)

开放措施

探索密切中国律师事务所与外国(港澳台地区)律师事务所业务合作的方式和机制。

9.资信调查(国民经济行业分类：L 租赁和商务服务业——7295 信用服务)

开放措施

允许设立外商投资资信调查公司。

10.旅行社(国民经济行业分类：L 租赁和商务服务业——7271 旅行社服务)

开放措施

允许在试验区内注册的符合条件的中外合资旅行社，从事除台湾地区以外的出境旅游业务。

11.人才中介服务(国民经济行业分类：L 租赁和商务服务业——7262 职业中介服务)

开放措施

(1)允许设立中外合资人才中介机构，外方合资者可以拥有不超过70%的股权；允许港澳服务提供者设立独资人才中介机构。

(2)外资人才中介机构最低注册资本金要求由30万美元降低至12.5万美元。

12.投资管理(国民经济行业分类：L 租赁和商务服务业——7211 企业总部管理)

开放措施

允许设立股份制外资投资性公司。

13.工程设计(国民经济行业分类：M 科学研究与技术服务企业——7482 工程勘察设计)

开放措施

对试验区内为上海市提供服务的外资工程设计(不包括工程勘察)企业，取消首次申请资质时对投资者的工程设计业绩要求。

14.建筑服务(国民经济行业分类：E 建筑业——47 房屋建筑业，48 土木工程建筑业，49 建筑安装业，

50 建筑装饰和其他建筑业)

开放措施

对试验区内的外商独资建筑企业承揽上海市的中外联合建设项目时，不受建设项目的中外方投资比例限制。

五、文化服务领域

15.演出经纪(国民经济行业分类：R 文化、体育和娱乐业——8941 文化娱乐经纪人)

开放措施

取消外资演出经纪机构的股比限制，允许设立外商独资演出经纪机构，为上海市提供服务。

16.娱乐场所(国民经济行业分类：R 文化、体育和娱乐业——8911 歌舞厅娱乐活动)

开放措施

允许设立外商独资的娱乐场所，在试验区内提供服务。

六、社会服务领域

17.教育培训、职业技能培训(国民经济行业分类：P 教育——8291 职业技能培训)

开放措施

(1)允许举办中外合作经营性教育培训机构。

(2)允许举办中外合作经营性职业技能培训机构。

18.医疗服务(国民经济行业分类：Q 卫生和社会工作——8311 综合医院，8315 专科医院，8330 门诊部〔所〕)

开放措施

允许设立外商独资医疗机构。(中国网财经中心)

Went to 121Bc Hong Kong last night on Peel Street. I will never go back after what I experienced.

The Sommelier there spent 20 minutes talking to us about their wine list and we ordered a bottle of 2008 Brunello; when I came to settle the bill they told us that they did not take credit cards – I was a little embarrassed because I wanted to treat my friends and didn’t carry that much cash with me.

I protested and mentioned the right thing to do was to have told your patrons about the payment policy at the beginning before the orders were taken especially when the amounts we were dealing with were significant; in response the barman told us that if we didn’t like the payment policy don’t come back. I was a little taken aback from the whole experience. I did not expect to go out whilst ordering expensive bottles of wines and be treated like that.

My recommendation is – this place serves over-priced wines and the people working there are rude.