Seminar on plan for Pearl River Delta development
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     The Central Policy Unit of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province today (February 19) held a Seminar on Implementation of "the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020)".  

     The seminar was to promote participants’ understanding of the content and significance of the outline, which was released by the National Development and Reform Commission on January 8, and to explore the various channels of its implementation by Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, the Vice-Provincial Governor of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Wan Qingliang, and the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Tam Pak-yuen, attended the seminar and delivered keynote speeches.

     Mr Tang said, “A major breakthrough in the Outline is the emphasis of innovative co-operation modes.  Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao may have more autonomy in discussing co-operation matters under the guidance of the related departments of the central government.  They are encouraged to formulate regional co-operation plans through mutual agreement.”  

     “The HKSAR Government places great importance on the strategic meaning of the Outline.  We will do our best to implement the contents of the Outline,” he said.
   
     Director, Department of Regional Economy, the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Fan Hengshan; Director General, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Tang Hao; Deputy Director, Development Research Centre, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Ms Li Luyun; Director, Research Centre for Sustainable Development Strategies, the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Dr Daniel Tse Chi-wai; and Member, Central Policy Unit, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Shiu Sin-por, gave thematic speeches and remarks.

     Experts and academics from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau joined a panel discussion afterwards.  More than 500 participants attended the seminar, including those from Hong Kong, representatives of Mainland and overseas institutions and senior government officials.

Ends/Thursday, February 19, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:31

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