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Following is the speech (translation) by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Foundation-stone Laying Ceremony for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor in Shenzhen today (August 28):
Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan, Governor Huang Huahua, Deputy Director Chen Zouer, Party Secretary Huang Liman, Mayor Li Hongzhong, ladies and gentlemen
It is a great pleasure to attend the foundation-stone laying ceremony for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor. Vice-Premier Zeng has travelled all the way from Beijing to Shenzhen to officiate at the ceremony. His presence here epitomises the strong support of the Central Government for greater co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland. On behalf of the HKSAR Government, I express my heartfelt gratitude to Vice-Premier Zeng and the Central Government.
Market sentiment and the latest economic figures in Hong Kong clearly indicate that as a result of CEPA and the Sixth Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference, trade and economic co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland has progressed to a new stage. The development of closer ties between Hong Kong and the Mainland has entered a new stage.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen are a key nexus in land transport to the Mainland. Since the opening up of the Mainland, economic, trade, academic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland have become ever more frequent. These increasing contacts have made it imperative to provide adequate boundary crossings between the two places. The three existing land boundary crossings between Shenzhen and Hong Kong are nearing the saturation point, such that both administrations have agreed to build the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor as the fourth land crossing to accommodate growth. Traffic flows at the three existing boundary crossings have increased greatly over the past five years. The average total daily vehicular traffic at boundary crossings is expected to reach 65,000 vehicles in 2006, far beyond the daily capacity of 42,000 vehicles, which the three existing crossings offer now. Upon its completion, the Western Corridor will provide additional daily traffic capacity of 80,000 vehicles, raising the overall daily traffic capacity to 122 000 vehicles, thereby easing the current congestion. And yet, even four land crossings are considered inadequate to meet the future demand arising from further development. A working group drawn from among officials of the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao administrations will convene its first meeting tomorrow to press on with the advance preparations for construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. We must extend our full support in order to achieve early completion of these major cross-boundary infrastructural projects, which will ease the flow of people and goods and bring substantial long-term economic benefits to Hong Kong, Macao and the Mainland.
The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor, the Shenzhen Tonggu Waterway, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link -- all of these construction projects are designed to achieve the common goal of Hong Kong and Guangdong: to develop the Pearl River Delta into the world's most vibrant and competitive economic region within the next two decades.
Construction work on the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor begins today after years of collaboration between the two administrations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Governor Huang, Party Secretary Huang and Mayor Li for the concern and support they have shown towards this project. My thanks also go to all colleagues of the two administrations for their hard work over the years. I look forward to our close co-ordination and continuous co-operation throughout the construction period to ensure smooth progress and achieve completion in 2005.
End/Thursday, August 28, 2003
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