The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, three of the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (Bay Area), from September 7 to 8. During his visit he met with officials of the municipal governments, Hong Kong enterprises and Hong Kong people working in the cities, and exchanged views with them on the latest developments and opportunities of the Bay Area, as well as visiting some infrastructure facilities there.
 
     At a meeting with the Mayor of Zhongshan, Mr Jiao Lansheng, Mr Nip exchanged views with him on the positioning of Zhongshan in the Bay Area development and matters relating to Hong Kong-Zhuhai co-operation. Mr Nip said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government would, in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems", collaborate with the Bay Area cities in establishing win-win co-operation and taking forward the development of the Bay Area.
 
     He also visited the National Health Technology Park in Zhongshan to get a better understanding of the development of the Zhongshan health industry and how Hong Kong enterprises could take part in the development of the industry.
 
     During his visits to Zhuhai and Shenzhen, Mr Nip met with Hong Kong people doing business and working in these cities to tap their views on the Bay Area development and the opportunities it will bring. He was also concerned about their life in the cities, and noted that the Government was proactively following up with the relevant Mainland authorities on measures to facilitate Hong Kong people studying, working and living on the Mainland.
 
     While in Zhuhai, Mr Nip also visited a Hong Kong enterprise specialising in printer consumables to learn about its experience of transforming and upgrading itself to become a high value-added and innovative business. He also visited the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to see for himself the latest work progress.
 
     During his visit to Shenzhen, Mr Nip and the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr Ai Xuefeng, jointly officiated at a reception in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.
 
     Speaking at the reception, Mr Nip said that Hong Kong and Shenzhen had all along been co-operating closely, and with the development of the Bay Area co-operation between the two cities would enter a new stage. Both would make use of their respective advantages and join together in developing innovation and technology and creative industries with a view to giving impetus to the Bay Area development, he said.
 
     "Looking ahead, Hong Kong will actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Bay Area development. With our extensive external networks, a rich pool of international professionals, strengths in capital raising and financing, commerce, trade and logistics as well as high-end professional services, Hong Kong can act as a facilitator and promoter to 'go global' with Mainland enterprises and develop the international markets. Hong Kong will continue to establish complementary relations with the cities in the Bay Area and improve the flows of people, goods, capital and information with them, with a view to working together to establish a world-class city cluster ideal for living, working and travelling," he said.

Ends/Friday, September 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:49

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