The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Mr Liu Cigui, at Government House this afternoon (February 26). The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, were also present.

     Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Liu's visit to Hong Kong with his delegation and she said she was pleased to meet with Mr Liu again following her visit to Hainan to attend the Boao Forum for Asia in April last year. She said that a number of areas for co-operation were explored at the last meeting and the potential for co-operation in tourism was particularly remarkable. She wished Mr Liu a fruitful visit to Hong Kong, further enhancing co-operation between the two places in other areas.

     Mrs Lam said that the Central Government earlier promulgated the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which brings huge development opportunities to Hong Kong, and that taking forward the development of the Greater Bay Area will be a major part of the work of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. She said that the development of the Greater Bay Area and the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone which was approved by the State Council last year will bring new co-operation opportunities for Hainan and Hong Kong. She welcomed Hainan to actively introduce to Hong Kong business and professional services sectors the latest developments of the Hainan free trade zone and encouraged Hainan enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's advantages in finance, trade, logistics, management and professional services to explore global markets.

Ends/Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Issued at HKT 20:38

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