THE Asean-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is now in its final stage and is hoped to take effect this year, reported Vietnam News Agency, based on news from Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhua quoted Law Kin-wai, director general of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, as saying yesterday that member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are proceeding with the necessary domestic ratifications and procedures that would pave the way for the enforcement of the FTA.

Representatives from Asean member states and the special administrative region of China signed the pact and an investment agreement in November 2017.

Law said both sides wanted the FTA to come into force in 2019, preferably in the middle of the year.

The agreement looks to offer more legal certainty and easier market access for goods flow between Asean and Hong Kong. Under the trade deal, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand agreed to cut customs duties of 85 per cent of goods listed in their tariff schedules within 10 years.

Asean comprises 10 member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. – Bernama, February 13, 2019.