ENG-2009 — Page 50

14 | Constitution and Administration

(b) negotiation and conclusion of international agreements, such as obtaining the CPG's specific authorisation for the negotiation and conclusion of agreements with foreign states in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law;

(c) consular protection for Hong Kong people in distress overseas; and

(d) matters relating to consular missions in the HKSAR. The establishment of foreign consular and other official or semi-official missions is a matter for the MFA Office. The HKSAR Government is responsible for the day-to-day management of the consular corps.

Working Relationship with the Mainland Authorities

The Government continues to have a cordial working relationship with the CPG and other Mainland authorities. This is enhanced through visits, meetings, seminars and other exchanges between the two governments.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council assists the HKSAR Government in developing contacts with the Mainland authorities. The Government also liaises closely with the HKMAO on matters of mutual concern and on arrangements for official visits between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Article 22 of the Basic Law states that no department of the CPG and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong which the HKSAR administers on its own. in accordance with the Basic Law.

The Constitutional Affairs Bureau was renamed Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) on July 1, 2007 to reflect more clearly one of the bureau's key functions: co-ordinating and promoting closer ties and co-operation with the Mainland. The bureau's

The bureau's Mainland Affairs Liaison Office is responsible for co-ordinating contacts between the HKSAR Government and the Mainland authorities, as well as promoting regional co-operation initiatives between Hong Kong and the Mainland. It also oversees the running of HKSAR Government's Mainland offices.

As the province closest to Hong Kong, Guangdong has the most extensive ties with the HKSAR. Since 1982, the Cross-boundary Liaison System has provided an effective mechanism for Hong Kong and Guangdong to discuss and resolve issues of mutual concern, such as cross-boundary crime and the regulation of the Shenzhen River.

With the promulgation of the 'Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta' by the National Development and Reform Commission in January 2009, co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong has been elevated to the national strategic level. To implement the Outline, Hong Kong has been working with Guangdong in drawing up a framework agreement. Formulation of regional co-operation plans on 'building a quality living area' and on 'infrastructure construction' is also in the pipeline.

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