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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, met the Acting Shenzhen Mayor, Mr Wang Rong, today (June 23) to exchange views on further co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Mr Tsang and Mr Wang reviewed a number of co-operation areas between the two places during the meeting. Since the signing of the "Memorandum on Closer Co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen" in 2004, there were substantial achievements in areas like large-scale infrastructure projects, control point arrangements, industries, commerce and trade, innovation and technology, environmental protection, education and town planning. The two sides agreed to maintain a close partnership to implement "The Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta Region" proactively, as well as push forward large-scale cross-boundary infrastructure projects, including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airport Rail Link, Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai boundary control point, and the Lok Ma Chau Loop development.
Noting that the drug abuse problem among teenagers in Hong Kong had deteriorated, Mr Tsang and Mr Wang agreed that Hong Kong and Shenzhen would further step up co-operation to tackle the drug abuse problem in the two places. Hong Kong suggested that the Shenzhen authorities pass to Hong Kong information regarding Hong Kong youths found abusing drugs in Shenzhen as well as sending back to Hong Kong young drug abusers who had been placed under administrative detention after their confinement. The relevant authorities in the two places have reached consensus on the above arrangements. In addition, the law enforcement agencies in the two places will step up actions during the summer vacation to tackle the drug dealing and the cross-boundary drug trafficking problems.
Mr Tsang also expressed his thanks for Shenzhen's support in putting in place within a short period of time the arrangements allowing Shenzhen permanent residents to apply for Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) endorsement for multiple visits to Hong Kong within one year. In the two-month period following the implementation of the above measure on April 1, almost 90,000 Shenzhen residents have visited Hong Kong using this endorsement. At the meeting, Mr Tsang also raised the issue of implementing as soon as possible the measure for non-Guangdong residents in Shenzhen to apply for IVS endorsement in Shenzhen to visit Hong Kong.
Afterwards, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, had a meeting with Mr Wang. During the meeting, Mr Tang and Mr Wang exchanged views on promoting various initiatives between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and discussed ways to build on the current foundation of Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation to bring it to a new phase.
Ends/Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:55
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