ENG-2014 — Page 48

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Constitution and Administration

Working Relationship with the Mainland Authorities

The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is responsible for co-ordinating contacts between the HKSAR Government and the Mainland authorities, promoting regional co- operation initiatives between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and overseeing the operation of the HKSAR Government's Mainland Offices.

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

Co-operation with Mainland provinces/municipalities

The Dedicated Chapter on Hong Kong and Macao in the National 12th Five-Year Plan emphasises the importance of deepening Hong Kong/Guangdong co-operation and implementing the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation, further elevating Hong Kong/Guangdong co-operation to the national development strategy level.

At the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in November 2014, both sides. agreed the key areas for further co-operation in 2015 and to further implement the liberalisation of trade in services on the basis of the early basic achievement of liberalisation of trade in services between Hong Kong and Guangdong in 2014. They also agreed to strengthen co- operation in areas such as financial and professional services, tourism, cross-boundary infrastructure, environmental protection, cultural exchange and further promoting the development of the key districts of Nansha, Hengqin and Qianhai.

In respect of regional co-operation, in February 2014 the State Council approved the establishment of the 'Inter-ministries Joint Conference on the Promotion of the Development of Qianhai, Nansha and Hengqin in Guangdong, led by the National Development and Reform Commission, to enhance co-ordination in developing the three districts. The first joint conference was held in Beijing in November.

Hong Kong and Nansha enhanced co-operation in financial and accounting services. Measures included allowing Guangzhou enterprises and financial institutions to issue Renminbi bonds in Hong Kong to finance Nansha's development, and allowing Hong Kong accounting professionals to become partners in accounting firms in Nansha.

As for Hengqin, the two sides enhanced support for industries associations and agencies from Hong Kong and Guangdong to practise and set up branch offices there; and encouraged Hong Kong enterprises to participate in the development of cultural and creative industries in Hengqin. The respective governments of Guangdong, HKSAR and Macao SAR pushed ahead with the study on cross-boundary transport policies for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and discussed cross-boundary transport arrangements of HZMB.

Regarding Qianhai, as at December 2014, the Mainland authorities had implemented 18 of the 22 policies promulgated in the State Council's 'Policies for Development and Opening-up of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone. In addition, both

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