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Constitution and Administration
During the year, the HKSAR Government continued to follow up on the 190 post-earthquake reconstruction projects initiated by the HKSAR Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sichuan to ensure the effective use of support funds and the timely implementation of those projects. As at 31 December, 172 reconstruction projects had been completed. On the basis of the close ties resulting from the reconstruction work, Hong Kong and Sichuan also increased co-operation in various areas, including tourism and construction.
Working Relationship with Macao Special Administrative Region
At the Fifth Hong Kong-Macao Co-operation High Level Meeting in June in Macao, the two sides reviewed progress and agreed to continue to maintain close co-operation and communications in different areas and explore new co-operation initiatives.
HKSAR's Offices in the Mainland
The HKSAR Government has four offices in the Mainland: the Beijing Office (BJO) and three Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETOS) in Guangdong, Shanghai and Chengdu2. These offices are responsible for enhancing liaison and communications with the CPG and other Mainland authorities; strengthening Hong Kong's economic and trade ties with the Mainland; promoting Hong Kong and encouraging and attracting investments to Hong Kong. The BJO and the Guangdong ETO have their own Immigration Divisions which provide practica! assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress or seeking assistance in the Mainland and handle immigration matters. In addition to the Guangdong ETO's existing Shenzhen Liaison Unit, the Chengdu and Guangdong ETOS established liaison units in Chongqing and Fujian respectively in 2012 to deepen co-operation with the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone and the Economic Zone on the West Coast of the Taiwan Strait respectively, and to explore new business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises.
Exchanges with Taiwan
Hong Kong and Taiwan have close economic and cultural ties. Taiwan is Hong Kong's fourth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to $325.7 billion (around US$42 billion) in 2012. Around 2.14 million people from Taiwan visited Hong Kong and some 0.84 million people from Hong Kong visited Taiwan during the year.
Exchanges between Hong Kong and Taiwan are conducted through the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council (ECCPC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC). A number of important initiatives were achieved in 2012:
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The Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (HKETCO) in Taiwan was officially opened on 15 May to promote Hong Kong in Taiwan and to help contribute to the long-
The Beijing Office covers Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and Tibet. The Guangdong ETO covers Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan. The Shanghai ETO covers Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei and Shanghai. The Chengdu ETO covers Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Hunan and Chongqing.
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