On September 27, 2012, the Ministry of Culture issued the Notice on Relevant Matters Concerning the Implementation of the Supplementary Provisions IX to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (“CEPA”) and the Supplementary Provisions IX to the CEPA between the Mainland and Macau. Under the notice, the Ministry of Culture allows Hong Kong and Macau service providers to (1) establish wholly owned internet access service business sites (such as an internet cafe) in the Mainland; (2) establish wholly owned entertainment venues on a pilot basis in Qianhai in Shenzhen municipality and Hengqin in Zhuhai municipality; and (3) establish performance groups on an equity joint venture basis in the Mainland, in which the Mainland party must retain a majority shareholding position. The above provisions will take effect on January 1, 2013.

The full Chinese text of the notice is available here.