Agreements on cross-boundary infrastructure, food safety and
assistance for Hong Kong-funded enterprises in the Pearl River
Delta were some of the fruits of the 10th plenary session of the
Hong Kong/Guangdong Joint Conference.
Other areas covered included energy conservation, social welfare
and efforts to protect information technology and intellectual
property rights.
The conference was co-chaired by Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region Chief Executive Donald Tsang and Guangdong
Provincial Governor Huang Huahua.
In his speech, Tsang described the conference as very successful
before going on to highlight key areas of cooperation and future
plans.
He said the feasibility study for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao
Bridge is close to completion. In the next phase, the three
governments involved will focus on picking spots for three
checkpoints and sorting out financing for the project.
"I believe that through the efforts of the three governments and
the central government's coordination, the feasibility study will
soon be completed and submitted to the State Council for approval,"
Tsang said.
As for the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
rail link, the Hong Kong Government has decided to build a new,
dedicated rail link instead of using a shared one as originally
planned.
"A dedicated corridor provides a smooth rail link that connects
with the national railway network and helps consolidate Hong Kong's
position as the southern gate of China," he said. "The traveling
time between Guangdong and Hong Kong will be reduced to
less than one hour. The cost will of course be much higher, but
there will be far bigger economic benefits."
On the subject of the safety of Hong Kong's food supply, Huang
said Guangdong attached great importance to this matter and pledged
closer oversight of food production, inspection and transportation.
In addition, he said provincial authorities would communicate with
their Hong Kong counterparts during food safety crises.
"I can assure our compatriots in Hong Kong that food imported to
Hong Kong from Guangdong is safe to eat," Huang said.
For his part, Tsang said Hong Kong would enact a food safety law
to regulate food importers and distributors.
The joint conference also discussed ways to help Hong
Kong-funded enterprises operating in Guangdong to meet new
environment-protection laws and regulations. While the province
will phase out inefficient and polluting businesses, the two sides
have agreed to set up a joint task force to help the affected
enterprises adapt.
Tsang said protecting the environment was one of the major tasks
of his third term.
(China Daily August 3, 2007)