(Macao – 18 April 2011) The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today led a delegation to Guangzhou for a meeting with the Secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Mr Wang Yang, to discuss taxation issues and hierarchical management regarding the joint development of Hengqin Island as provisioned in the Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao. This is the second meeting between the two sides since the signing of the Framework Agreement last month. Mr Wang said today's meeting was intended to flesh out the implementation of the Framework Agreement and to prepare for tomorrow's joint conference between Guangdong and Macao. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Chui said Guangdong and Macao were striving to lay down details about hierarchical management in the Macao-Hengqin boundary checkpoint, which is essential to the future development of Hengqin Island. When asked about the potential problems of smuggling and tax evation, he said the Guangdong and Macao authorities would join hands in fighting and preventing these kinds of illegal activities. Mr Chui said the Macao government had already asked the central government to give preferential tax treatment to Macao citizens working or living in Hengqin. Regarding the development of the Guangdong-Macao industrial zone, Mr Chui said the Executive Council had approved the establishment of a company to take charge of the issue. At a later date Guangdong and Macao will jointly set up a firm to develop and run the industrial zone, according to Mr Chui. He pointed out that the industrial zone would offer many co-operation projects in the future apart from the Chinese Medicine Industrial Park and he pledged that the government would facilitate Macao people's participation in the development of Hengqin. The government will also help local small- and medium-sized enterprises to seize opportunities in the development of Hengqin, Mr Chui added. The Secretary of Economy and Finance will give media briefings about each stage of the development in Hengqin in future to keep Macao people informed of the opportunities there.
