Constitution and Administration 15
Guangdong enterprise, trade and business associations to discuss ideas to enhance economic cooperation between the two places. To facilitate the implementation of CEPA and expedite the implementation of cooperation initiatives in relation to Hong Kong and Shenzhen made under the framework of Hong Kong/Guangdong cooperation, the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Mayor of Shenzhen signed a Memorandum of Closer Cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on June 17. The two sides also signed eight cooperation agreements covering legal services, industry and trade, investment promotion, economic and trade exchange, tourism and technology.
The HKSAR Government and the CPG set up the Mainland/HKSAR Conference on the Coordination of Major Infrastructure Projects in January 2002 (Coordination Conference). The Coordination Conference is co-chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission to enhance coordination and cooperation between the Mainland and the HKSAR in transport and major infrastructure projects. Studies on the Guangzhou- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, logistics cooperation and the Hong Kong- Zhuhai-Macao Bridge are in progress.
On June 1, the HKSAR Government, with the governments of eight Mainland provinces and an autonomous region, including Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunan, as well as the Macao Special Administrative Region Government (the '9+2' governments), held the opening ceremony of the first 'Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) Regional Cooperation and Development Forum' in Hong Kong. The Forum continued in Macao the following day and the closing ceremony was held in Guangzhou on June 3, at which the '9+2' governments signed the 'Pan-PRD Regional Cooperation Framework Agreement'. Under the Framework Agreement, the '9+2' governments have agreed to strengthen cooperation in ten areas infrastructure, investment, business and trade, tourism, agriculture, labour, education and culture, information and technology, environmental protection, and health and prevention of infectious disease.
The Hong Kong/Shanghai Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was established in October 2003 by the HKSAR Government and the Shanghai Municipal Government to foster closer economic and trade ties between the two places, particularly to leverage on opportunities brought about by CEPA. The two sides. agreed to strengthen cooperation on eight areas, including cooperation in airport management; port and logistics; Shanghai Expo 2010; tourism, convention and exhibition industry; investment and trade; professional personnel exchanges; financial services; education, health and sports. The two sides have maintained close liaison to follow up on implementation of these cooperation initiatives.
The HKSARG and the Beijing Municipal Government held a high-level meeting cum the First Plenary of the Hong Kong/Beijing Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference in Hong Kong on September 2. The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and the Party Secretary of Beijing, Mr Liu Qi, presided over the meeting to discuss the setting up of a cooperation mechanism and the establishment of the cooperation conference. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in seven aspects,
HONG:
RARIES