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HK Expects Tech Boost in Ties with Delta Area
Top officials of Hong Kong and South China's Guangdong Province pledged recently to link both sides more closely in the development of the high-tech industries and environmental protection.
SAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa met with Guangdong Governor Lu Ruihua last weekend during his two-day official visit to Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province; Dongguan; and Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
"The changing global and domestic situations, especially the economic globalization and China's prospective entry into World Trade Organization (WTO), require us to strengthen co-operation for mutual better development," said Tung.
"Since Hong Kong has world leading service, and Guangdong has strong industries. Both sides will benefit a lot from close cooperation."
Lu highlighted the significant and special economic relationship between Hong Kong and Guangdong, describing it in a sentence as "better Hong Kong, better Guangdong; better Guangdong, better Hong Kong".
Tung encouraged Hong Kong investors to see the dramatic development on the mainland by themselves and to gain a full understanding of the mainland market.
"The market is very large. Come and earn your market shares for your products," he told the Hong Kong business community in a news briefing after the meeting.
"The visit could make me learn more about the latest social and economic situations in Guangdong Province, especially the Pearl River Delta area, so that the SAR government could do more for our investors to enter the market."
He stressed that the SAR government would discuss with the Guangdong government ways to improve the situation of exit and entry into the mainland through checkpoints for people and vehicles.
Staying in Guangzhou for three days altogether, Tung praised highly the fast development of Guangzhou, saying the city has put on a new look since the traffic situation is improved, environmental pollution is curbed and public security turns good.
Huang said Hong Kong and Guangzhou could be good partners to develop high-tech industries and scientific innovations.
"When combine the powerful research workforce in Guangzhou and free market of Hong Kong together, they will produce considerable wealth for both sides," Huang said.
The gross domestic product (GDP) of Guangzhou is expected to hit 235 billion yuan (US$28.31 billion) this year, 13.5 per cent up from the same period of last year. It is the city with the fastest GDP growth rate in the country.
Tung will continue his visit in Dongguan and Shenzhen, meeting government leaders, Hong Kong investors in these two cities and visit high-tech enterprises. He will back in Hong Kong this evening.
Source: China Daily
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