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Conference Hall

Tung Chee-hwa makes speech on conference

Some 52 projects, accounting for about 55% of the total projects signed on 6th Hong Kong Guangdong Cooperation Conference, have been completed, and other 41 projects are undergoing or in preliminary work, reveals the 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation Conference held today (Aug 4th).

Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR and Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province co-host the conference.

Both sides reveal the cooperation achievements gained since the last conference.

1. Some 52 projects have been completed and other 41 projects are in the process or preliminary work.

2. The import and export value between Guangdong and Macao, including import and export via Hong Hong in 2003, reaches 205.46 billion USD, up 23.5% year on year. In first half of this year, it hits 112.57 billion USD, with an increase of 23.4%. In 2003, the actual utilized capital form Hong Kong is 8.646 billion USD, increasing 23.9%. From Jan-Jun 2004, a total of 2401 enterprises invested by Hong Kong are approved by Guangdong government, with actual attracted value of 2.39 billion USD.

3. Until July 28, the individual travel visa to Hong Kong issued by Guangdong government hits 3.17 million, about 60% of the total visa to Hong Kong and Macao, which is 5.88 million.

4. Under CEPA, some 649 Hong Kong businessmen have registered in Guangdong with 22 million yuan. The zero-tariff products imported from Hong Kong reach 289 million Hong Kong dollars in value.

5. Guangdong and Hong Kong government joint hands to introduce the economic zone named Greater Pearl River Delta to Japan and South Korea, to extend its international influence.

6. Four pairs of Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train are put into use, three water passengers carriage lines from Pearl River Delta ports to Hong Kong International Airport.

7. The channels link west Shenzhen and Hong Kong are under construction, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high speed railway's construction are in preliminary work.

8. Both sides promote cooperation in science and technology, education, sanitation, environmental protection, culture, sports, etc. 

Both sides stress the success of the first Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Form and the first Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Economic & Trade Cooperation Fair and express their confidence that the cooperation mechanisms are effective.

Guangdong and Hong Kong is stepping to enhance cooperation in manufacturing industry, service industry and ports. And both sides is to joint hands to promote the Pan-Pearl River Delta regional cooperation and introduce the Greater Pearl River Delta; impel the construction of cross-border infrastructure and the preliminary work; promote the cooperation in trade, science and technology, education and talents.

Key projects of 14 sectors pinned

The two parts agree to strengthen cooperation in 14 aspects: promote PPRD regional cooperation; support the development of HK-funded enterprises in Guangdong; attract more HK enterprises to invest in East and West wings of Guangdong, as well as its mountainous areas in the north; further cooperation in service sector; support GD enterprises to enter HK market; support GD enterprises to go listed in HK; further cooperation in technology field; promote Greater PRD together; deepen the cooperation in tourism industry; strengthen the exchange and cooperation in town planning; further the cooperation in customs; strengthen the cooperation in education; increase the communication between civil servants in both parts; exchange experience on dealing with foreign 'anti-dumping' policy. Both parts will also urge the cooperation in other fields as culture, environmental protection, information sector, sanitation, sports and police, etc.

Establish three new working groups

Both parts agree to co-establish three new working groups: PPRD regional cooperation promotion group, GD-HK town planning cooperation group and civil servant communication group, adding the GD-HK cooperation working groups to 18 in number.

Both parts reach a common ground that GD-HK cooperation has entered a new age, facing new opportunities for further development. Once both parts can take full advantage of the implementation of CEPA and further their cooperation, they both can enjoy a brighter future.

Editor: Donald