Guangdong-Macao conference constructive for future co-operation – Chief Executive

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference had created favourable conditions for mutual co-operation at many levels and areas. Mr Ho was speaking to the press with the the Governor of Guangdong, Mr Huang Huahua, when they met the press after a review of progress of the Conference. Mr Ho said co-operation had became more inevitable following the trend of globalisation and the implementation of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between the Mainland and Macao, and the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation in the last year. He said that co-operation had changed from technical co-operation between departments to co-operation in many levels and areas; from simple economic co-operation to a complementary and strategic co-operation. “The two governments have to be more dedicated in policy making and administration in order to keep up with the development, and this meeting has created favourable conditions for more profound co-operations of higher level in the future.” said Mr Ho. Mr Ho and Mr Huang also talked about on-going and future joint development projects between Macao and Guangdong. On the plan of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Mr Huang said the structure would profoundly affect transportation and traffic in the region. Thus a study had been conducted and the findings would be submitted to the three governments soon, he said. On the development of Hengqin Island, Mr Huang said the project, originally a joint venturet between Macao and Zhuhai, would now be carried out jointly by the nine provinces and the two Special Administrative Regions in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region,. On the Macao Zhuhai Cross Border Industrial Park, Mr. Ho said the number of enterprises interested in setting up factories in the park had been more than anticupated. Mr Ho also said that Macao and Guangdong had agreed to prioritise the construction of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macao high-speed railway project. Mr Hi and Mr Huang both shared the view that there was a need for procedures to smooth traffic flow at the Gongbei checkpoint.