The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (August 25) officiated at the Opening Ceremony in Guangzhou of the "Together · Progress · Opportunity - Exhibition in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to the Motherland" organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Gala Dinner in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.
 
     During his visit to Guangzhou, Mr Cheung met senior officials of the Guangdong Provincial Government to exchange views on issues related to the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. He thanked the Guangdong Provincial Government for actively promoting exchanges and co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong in different aspects over the years.
 
     Mr Cheung also met Hong Kong entrepreneurs and students in Guangdong to learn more about their work, study and living on the Mainland, and listened to their views on developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. He said that Guangdong and Hong Kong had embarked on multi-level co-operation, not only in trade, finance, innovation and technology and professional services, but also in cross-border infrastructure, water supply, food, education, environmental protection and youth cooperation. Guangdong and Hong Kong will work together to capitalise on the development of the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area in building a world-class city cluster for living, work and leisure.
      
     In the afternoon, Mr Cheung officiated at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. At the ceremony, he said that the exhibition showcased the theme of "Togetherness" and how Hong Kong and the Mainland had joined hands in fields such as trade, technology, infrastructure, culture, sports and disaster relief, building closer bilateral ties. Through the extensive use of 3-D exhibits and photos, the exhibition highlights the dual advantages of Hong Kong under "One Country, Two Systems" principle, pinpoints the achievements made by Hong Kong in the past 20 years, and shows how the city can serve as a "super-connector" under the nation’s new round of innovative development and contribute to it. 
 
     Held at the shopping mall of TaiKoo Hui in Guangzhou from today to September 3, the exhibition not only highlights the "Togetherness" between the Mainland and Hong Kong which have built extensive, deep and close connections in various areas such as trade, finance, technology, infrastructure, culture, sports, community, conservation and disaster relief, but also showcases the winning entries of the photo competition organised by the GDETO in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council has also organised an exhibition, entitled “Urban Playroom”, at the venue to showcase creative works by Hong Kong young designers. In addition, the Hong Kong Police Band is giving multiple performances at the exhibition venue from today to August 28.
 
     Speaking later at the Gala Dinner, Mr Cheung said that Guangdong and Hong Kong had close economic ties, noting that over the years Hong Kong has been a key trading partner of Guangdong and the province's largest source of inward investment, the largest destination of outward investment and its largest partner of trade in services.
 
     He said that the HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen the exchanges between Hong Kong and Guangdong on various fronts, cultivating friendship among the people of the two places. 
      
     Those attending the Opening Ceremony and the Gala Dinner included the Member of the Organisation of the Communist Party of China of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Chen Yunxian; the Vice-chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Wang Xunzhang; the Director General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Liao Jingshan; senior officials from relevant departments of Guangdong Province and its municipalities; representatives from Hong Kong organisations and Hong Kong-invested enterprises in Guangdong; representatives of Hong Kong trade associations; and Hong Kong students studying in Guangdong.
 

Ends/Friday, August 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:13

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