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The Planning Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) today (September 21) held a "Seminar on Regional Planning in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) Region" in Hong Kong.
The "Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020)" released by the National Development and Reform Commission on January 8 this year stressed the need to enhance regional co-operation, facilitate co-ordinated development of the region and improve the regional transportation system. The outline advocates closer co-operation of the PRD region with Hong Kong and Macau in terms of urban planning and cross-boundary transport development, and encourages them to formulate regional co-operation plans through consultation and agreement.
On this basis, the Planning Department organised a seminar, with a focus on regional planning and early planning and co-ordination of cross-boundary transport, to provide a discussion platform for relevant authorities, experts and academics in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau and the nine PRD cities (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing) and to share the initial findings of the relevant studies.
Secretary for Development Mrs Carrie Lam was the Guest of Honour and delivered an opening speech at the seminar. She said the seminar provided a platform for the relevant experts, academics and practitioners in GPRD cities to contribute ideas and exchange views on the way to facilitate co-ordinated development of the region and improve the regional transportation system, which was essential in promoting the development of the region.
"The promulgation of the outline and the consensus reached at the Liaison and Co-ordinating Meeting of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau in Jointly Taking Forward the Implementation of the Outline held in February have reaffirmed the direction and rationale of our recent work and served as a catalyst for our initiatives," Mrs Lam said.
Deputy Director-General, Construction Department, Guangdong Provincial Government, Mr Cai Ying was the guest speaker and gave a keynote speech on "The Development and Mission of Regional Planning in the Pearl River Delta". "Co-operation and planning across different regions with different political systems will definitely be a new focal point in the planning and development of the PRD Region," he said.
Chief of Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Macao SARG, Mr Francis Wong, was one of the panelists at the seminar. He said that through the planning process, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau had established trust and worked together to achieve common vision, which helped foster future co-operation of the three places. Director of Planning Mrs Ava Ng gave concluding remarks.
More than 200 participants attended the seminar, including government officials of Guangdong Provincial Government and the major PRD cities, Macao SAR and HKSAR, as well as experts, academics and representatives of the professional/research institutes in the region.
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:17
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