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The Planning Department of the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Development and Reform Bureau (SZDRB) today (March 14) exchanged views and shared experiences in strategic and comprehensive transport planning.
The sharing session was under the theme of the 11th Five-year Plan (11th FYP) of the Shenzhen Municipality.
The session enabled the HKSAR Government to better understand the Shenzhen 11th FYP. It also enabled mutual understanding between the SZDRB and the Planning Department as regards comprehensive transport planning and the relevant institutional set-up and functions in order to strengthen communication and co-operation.
SZDRB representatives introduced the overall planning rationale and research basis of the Shenzhen 11th FYP, and its economic development, industrial structure as well as transport and infrastructural facilities. Shenzhen Transport Bureau and Shenzhen Port of Entry Office also introduced the development plans of ports and boundary control points respectively.
Planning Department officials introduced Hong Kong's future development directions in the perspective of the "HK2030: Planning Vision and Strategy" study, the opportunities and constraints in developing the Frontier Closed Area at the boundary of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and the thinking on Hong Kong's cross-boundary transport infrastructure development. The Central Policy Unit also introduced the proposals put forward in the Economic Summit on "China's 11th FYP and the Development of Hong Kong".
After discussions on strengthening co-operation and information exchange, the SZDRB and Planning Department each appointed a liaison officer to facilitate the co-ordination and exchange of future planning and regional development information.
Shenzhen and Hong Kong both consider that the co-operation in cross-boundary transport infrastructure is the foundation to drive further socio-economic integration of the two places. Both sides have to step up the exchange of planning information in order to develop a comprehensive transport system that meets the needs of their economic developments, and with the subsequent radiating effects, to jointly promote the overall development of the Pearl River Delta and Pan-Pearl River Delta regional economic co-operation.
Representatives of the Shenzhen side attending the sharing session comprised SZDRB, Shenzhen Transport Bureau, Shenzhen Port of Entry Office and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipality.
The Hong Kong delegation comprised officials from relevant bureaus and departments including the Planning Department, Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, Central Policy Unit, Financial Secretary's Office, Economic Development and Labour Bureau, Environment, Transport and Works Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong.
Ends/Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:19
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