The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Guo Yonghang, at Government House today (February 14), to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong's co-operation with Guangzhou. Also attending the meeting were the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.
      
     Mr Lee welcomed Mr Guo and his delegation's visit to Hong Kong. Mr Lee noted that both Hong Kong and Guangzhou are core cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and have maintained close co-operation in various sectors, including government, the business sector and the community, over the years. The 15th National Games this year, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, is of great significance as it is the first time for the GBA to host the country’s highest-level, largest and most significant multisport games. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will dedicate its fullest efforts and adhere to the principle of "simple, safe and wonderful", to co-host the Games successfully with Guangdong and Macao.
      
     Mr Lee said that according to the Global Innovation Index 2024, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster has been ranked second globally for five consecutive years, which shows that the three places embrace great potential for innovation and technology (I&T) development, and gives recognition to the leading position of the GBA in the global I&T field. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), established in Nansha, welcomed its first cohort of undergraduate students in the 2023/24 academic year, cultivating talent in such areas as artificial intelligence and data science. It will foster the joint building of a major I&T platform of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, contributing to the establishment of China as a strong country in science and technology, he added.  
      
     Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong will further promote the integrated development of the GBA. It will also leverage the complementary advantages and foster high-level collaboration with Guangzhou, with a view to promoting high-quality development of the GBA, as well as making new and greater contributions to the further reform and opening up of the country, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
      
      

Ends/Friday, February 14, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:00

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