Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai yesterday met with his Hong Kong counterpart John Lee Ka-chiu during the latter’s visit to Macau where they exchanged views on various topics, such as both sides jointly promoting the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as new opportunities arising from the ongoing second-phase development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) announced in a statement last night.
In addition to his visit to Macau, Lee also visited Hengqin with the aim of gaining a better understanding of its latest development achievements, before returning to Hong Kong yesterday afternoon.
In his meeting with Lee at Government Headquarters, the statement said, Sam noted that they met again yesterday following their meeting in February this year when he visited Hong Kong. As the nation’s two special administrative regions, Sam said, Hong Kong and Macau have, over the years, fully leveraged the unique advantages brought about by the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, making remarkable development achievements that have drawn global attention.
According to the statement, Sam said that he expects the two cities to promote cross-border policy coordination and strengthen internal and external connectivity, with the aim of jointly contributing to the nation’s ongoing high-level opening-up endeavours.
Sam noted that both Hong Kong and Macau are core cities of the GBA and core engines for regional development. Consequently, he said, by continuously elevating their cooperation, particularly in driving the high-quality development in emerging industries and technological innovation, the two cities can make greater contributions to achieving mutual benefits and shared success among all cities in the GBA.
According to the statement, Sam pointed out that the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is an important platform for Macau’s participation in the GBA’s integrated development and for promoting Macau’s appropriate economic diversification. Sam noted that the Macau government has, in line with the projected “Macau + Hengqin” development model, set up its Leadership Group for Promoting the Development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, with the aim of strengthening its support for Hengqin’s development in terms of various aspects such as policies, legislation, personnel, and resource allocation.
Sam said that the Macau government welcomes more Hong Kong enterprises to invest in Hengqin so that they can seize the new opportunities brought about by the ongoing second-phase development of the in-depth cooperation zone.
Moreover, according to the statement, Sam also said that Hong Kong and Macau can leverage the opportunities created by the 15th National Games to jointly organise more sporting events in the two cities, with the aim of promoting the collaborative development of sport in the GBA, thereby attracting more diverse sources of visitors to Hong Kong, Macau, and the entire GBA.
Sam also noted that Hong Kong and Macau each possess distinct advantages in their respective tourism industries, adding that the two cities can continue to strengthen transport network connectivity to make it more convenient for residents and visitors to travel between them, while also fully leveraging their respective complementary strengths in tourism to jointly attract more visitors from other places.
HK govt’s statement
Meanwhile, according to a statement by the Hong Kong government last night, Lee said during his meeting with Sam yesterday that the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is the nation’s key strategic planning to enrich the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, contributing to Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability and its integration into the nation’s overall development.
According to the statement, Lee noted that both Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions of the nation, enjoying unique advantages brought about by the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, adding that the two cities enjoy close geographical ties, with frequent people-to-people and cultural exchanges, alongside solid economic and trade relations, while the two sides have been working closely in areas such as economy, cross-border infrastructure, tourism, and culture.
Lee pointed out that Hong Kong and Macau are both parts of the GBA, pledging that Hong Kong will continue to promote the GBA’s development in collaboration with Macau. By firmly upholding the principle of “One Country” and leveraging the benefits of “Two Systems”, Lee said, Hong Kong and Macau will achieve complementary strengths, pledging that Hong Kong will continue to strengthen cooperation with Macau, with the aim of together making greater contributions to the high-quality development of the GBA.
Lee visits Hengqin
Meanwhile, the statement by the Hong Kong government also said that Lee and members of his delegation also visited Hengqin yesterday. They visited the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation between Guangdong and Macau, where they went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultural Experience Centre, with the aim of gaining an understanding of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and the cultural tourism industry in Hengqin.
Afterwards, the statement said, Lee and members of his delegation headed to the exhibition hall showcasing Hengqin’s urban planning, where Lee exchanged views with other officials on the in-depth cooperation zone’s management, development models and achievements.
The GCS statement did not mention Lee’s visit to Hengqin yesterday.
Members of Lee’s delegation visiting Macau yesterday included Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan, and Lee’s chief-of-cabinet Carol Yip Man-kuen.
Macau officials who attended Sam’s meeting with Lee yesterday included Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Wallis O Lam, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam Vai Man, Sam’s chief-of-cabinet Chan Kak, and Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR) Director Cheong Chok Man.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (right) shakes hands with his Hong Kong counterpart John Lee Ka-chiu at Government Headquarters yesterday. – Photo: GCS
This photo provided by the Hong Kong government yesterday shows Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (centre) looking at an urban development model for Hengqin while visiting the island’s urban planning exhibition hall yesterday.
