Policy Address

Regional Co-operation

Development of Qianhai

93.       The State Council set clear objectives and directions for the development of Qianhai last August.  The SAR Government will work with the Shenzhen authorities to encourage the trades in Hong Kong to seize the opportunities arising from the development of Qianhai and to expand the hinterland for Hong Kong's service industries.  With their strengths and international experience, they can complement our country's plan to optimise its industrial structure and contribute to its reform and opening up in the next three decades.

Hong Kong-Taiwan Relations

94.       Last April, we set up the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) while Taiwan established the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC).  The establishment of the ECCPC and THEC is a milestone in the relations between Hong Kong and Taiwan.  The two places can use this platform to discuss public policies.  We have also set up the Hong Kong-Taiwan Business Co-operation Committee and Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Committee, which comprise members from the local business and cultural sectors.  They will work with their counterparts under the THEC to foster economic ties and social exchanges between the two places.

95.       Last August, the Financial Secretary led a delegation of all ECCPC members to Taiwan and attended the first joint meeting of the ECCPC and THEC.  This was an important starting point to institutionalise communication and liaison between Hong Kong and Taiwan.  In the coming year, we will continue to promote multi-faceted, multi-level exchanges with Taiwan.  These include the active consideration of updating the air services arrangements between Hong Kong and Taiwan, support for the regulatory bodies of both places to strengthen the liaison mechanism on co-operation in regulating the banking industry, the use of the new ECCPC-THEC platform to explore opportunities for economic and trade co-operation and double taxation avoidance issues.  We will pursue the setting up of an office in Taipei by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and discuss with Taiwan the establishment of a multi-functional office in Taipei by Hong Kong.

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