ENG-2019 — Page 53

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Constitution and Administration

promotes regional cooperation with the other provinces and municipalities by adopting a pragmatic approach and launching initiatives once they are ready.

Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

The Greater Bay Area comprises the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao as well as nine municipalities in Guangdong, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promulgated by the CPG on 18 February, signifies the full-fledged implementation of the Greater Bay Area development. Following the guiding direction set out in the Outline Development Plan, the HKSAR has taken a proactive role in engaging with the CPG, the Guangdong provincial and municipal governments and the Macao SAR Government, to achieve the necessary policy breakthroughs which will enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, transport and trading centre and develop it into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

The Chief Executive attended the plenary meeting of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, chaired by Vice Premier Han Zheng on 1 March 2019 in Beijing. The Leading Group reviewed the progress made in 2018 in taking forward the Greater Bay Area development and discussed the priority areas of work for 2019. The Chief Executive reported on the HKSAR Government's progress in 2018 in developing an international I&T hub. She also mentioned that based on the solid foundations built in 2018, the HKSAR Government would continue to cooperate closely with relevant parties, including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Guangdong Provincial Government, to implement various initiatives. After the meeting, the Chief Executive announced the CPG would introduce eight policy measures that could help Hong Kong residents develop, work and live in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, and strengthen the convenient flow of people and goods within the Greater Bay Area.

On 2 April, the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government co-chaired the 13th Hong Kong/Shenzhen Cooperation Meeting. Both sides. reviewed the achievements made since the last meeting and set out directions for cooperation in the coming year. The two places will steadfastly take forward initiatives set out in the Outline Development Plan pertaining to Hong Kong and Shenzhen cooperation and ensure their effective implementation.

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The eight policy measures are to provide that any stay of less than 24 hours in the Mainland will not be counted as a day of presence for the purpose of calculating individual income tax in the Mainland; provide tax relief by municipal governments to Hong Kong and other non-Mainland high-end talent and talent in short supply by offsetting the tax differential between the two places; support the open recruitment of Hong Kong and Macao residents by public institutions in the Greater Bay Area; encourage the youth of Hong Kong and Macao to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship in the nine Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area; support higher education institutions and scientific research institutes from Hong Kong and Macao to participate in projects under Guangdong technology programmes; introduce immigration facilitation reform pilot schemes in the Greater Bay Area; facilitate the entry and exit of vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao at Mainland ports; and expand the scope of implementing speedy customs clearance between customs administrations.

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