ENG-2011 — Page 57

Constitution and Administration | 21

the opportunities brought by the internationalisation of Renminbi. Hong Kong also participated in the Marintec China 2011 held in Shanghai in November through setting up a Hong Kong Pavilion. Built on the participation in the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, the exchange between the culture and art sectors of both places continued to flourish. The two sides engaged in close dialogue to prepare for the Second Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Economic and Trade Co-operation Conference, to be held in Shanghai in January 2012.

The Financial Secretary led a HKSAR delegation to participate in the 15th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Symposium held in Beijing in October. The HKSAR and Beijing discussed the further implementation of the consensus reached at the Third Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Beijing Economic and Trade Co-operation Conference in 2010. They also exchanged views on enhanced co-operation in areas of financial services; tourism; commerce, trade and investment; as well as other livelihood related issues.

To follow up and take forward the 191 projects led by the HKSAR Government and non-governmental organisations in support of the post-earthquake reconstruction works in Sichuan, the HKSAR Government and the Sichuan Provincial Government have set up a liaison and co-ordination mechanism. The mechanism includes a high-level co-ordination group led by the Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government and the Vice-Governor of the Sichuan Provincial Government, a co-ordination group formed by representatives from the relevant bureaux and departments of the Governments of both places, and dedicated project groups for individual areas of projects (such as medical services, education, social welfare and Wolong Natural Reserve Projects). In 2011, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau continued to co-ordinate cross-bureaux efforts, closely communicate with the Sichuan Provincial Government, and liaise with the relevant Hong Kong professional and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure the effective use of support funds and the timely implementation of reconstruction projects. As at end-2011, 71 Government-led and 20 NGO projects had been completed.

Working Relationship with Macao Special Administrative Region

To strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao, the two sides established a liaison officers' system under which representatives from the respective bureaux or departments would serve as liaison officers in various co-operation areas. In July 2011, the Financial Secretary and Macao's Secretary for Economy and Finance co-chaired the Fourth Hong Kong-Macao Co-operation High Level Meeting in Hong Kong. The Meeting reviewed the progress in Hong Kong and Macao's co-operation and shared experience in collaborating with the Mainland authorities in taking forward regional co-operation. Both sides agreed to deepen and explore new areas of co-operation between the two places to contribute to the sustainable development of the nation.