Policy Address

Economic and Trade Development

Regional Integration

Co-operation with Guangdong

35.        Co-operation with Guangdong over the past year has been fruitful thanks to the efforts of both Governments.  The Governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have reached a consensus on funding the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.  This has allowed us to advance the start of construction to no later than 2010.  The recently-signed Supplement V to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement will usher in a new phase of co-operation under a package of service liberalisation and facilitation measures for early and pilot implementation in Guangdong.

36.        We should step up efforts to pragmatically take forward priority joint ventures in the short to medium term.  We have to focus on: promoting co-operation in service industries; actively working with Guangdong to optimise and upgrade its industrial structure while assisting Hong Kong enterprises to respond to Mainland policy adjustments; and, actively facilitating cross-boundary environmental protection to create a green and quality living area in the PRD Region.  We also need to strengthen co-ordination in the planning and implementation of cross-boundary infrastructure projects.

 

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