Yang Hongcan, Director of the Registration Bureau of the State Administration of Market Supervision and Administration, said in Beijing on November 1 that he supported Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents to apply for setting up individual businesses as required. On the same day, the Information Office of the State Council held a regular briefing on the policies of the State Council to introduce the Regulations on Promoting the Development of Self employed Businesses (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations). Yang Hongcan said, "We have always supported and very welcome Taiwan compatriots to invest and do business in the mainland by setting up self-employed businesses and other market entities, which will also help strengthen cross-strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, so that Taiwan compatriots can share national development opportunities." He further pointed out that the Regulations on Promoting the Development of Self employed Businesses adhered to the relevant provisions of the original Regulations on Self employed Businesses, and made it clear that Taiwan residents can apply for registration as self-employed businesses in accordance with relevant national regulations. In addition, according to the CEPA, Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao can apply for the establishment of self-employed businesses in the mainland, and gradually expand the scope of implementation regions and industries. The market regulatory authorities at all levels earnestly implemented the relevant requirements of CEPA and the supplementary agreement, clarified the registration method, optimized the service measures, provided convenient conditions for Hong Kong and Macao residents to establish self-employed businesses, and the self-employed businesses of Hong Kong and Macao residents have developed steadily. "This Regulation continues the relevant provisions of CEPA and the former Regulation on Individual Businesses, and clarifies that Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region can apply for registration as individual businesses in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state." He said that, in the next step, the State Administration of Market Supervision will earnestly implement the Regulations and relevant policy documents to provide better services for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots to engage in self-employed businesses in the mainland. (Liu Xinshe)