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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Mr Tam Pak Yuen, co-chaired the Third Hong Kong Macao Co-operation High Level Meeting in Macao today (July 28) to discuss the latest progress and future direction of co-operation between the two places. Relevant officials from the two SARs attended the meeting.
Mr Tsang also met the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Mr Fernando Chui Sai On, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Cheong U.
Since the second co-operation meeting held in February 2009, with concerted efforts from the two places, there has been much progress in a number of co-operation areas, including facilitation measures introduced for Hong Kong and Macao residents commuting between the two places, etc.
On the tourism front, Hong Kong and Macao agreed to deepen co-operation and strengthen partnership in tourism development and promotion. The tourism resources of the two places are highly complementary and supplement each other. Hong Kong and Macao will enhance bilateral co-operation as well as co-operation with Guangdong on the joint promotion of "multi-destination" itineraries and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism, thereby promoting tourism development within the region.
At the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on other co-operation areas, including, culture, education and civil service training, etc.
In addition, both sides noted that Macao and Guangdong are in the process of drawing up a Framework Agreement on Macao/Guangdong Co-operation which aims at taking forward the "Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta" (the Outline). Both sides agreed to explore further co-operation on the basis of the Outline.
Besides, the Macao SAR Government briefed Mr Tsang about the latest progress of the establishment of the University of Macao Hengqin campus and the town planning of Macao.
Looking ahead, both sides agreed to continue to maintain close co-operation and communication in different areas and to explore new areas of co-operation.
Ends/Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:11
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