Q & A: Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua and Chief Executive Donald Tsang meet the press after the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference.

Hong Kong and Guangdong will enhance co-operation in food safety, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says, adding initial consensus has been reached in establishing a notification system on a day-to-day operational level.

After the 8th Plenary of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference with Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua today, Mr Tsang said they reviewed the progress of co-operation over the past year and discussed the way forward. Both sides attached importance to public concern over food safety and will strengthen co-operation.

They will designate officers to make enquiries and notify the other side of issues related to inspection and quarantine of animals and plants, and food safety. Both sides will organise meetings on a regular basis or on a need-to basis for exchange of views on major food incidents and policies.

Truck rule relaxed

Mr Tsang said the "one-truck one-driver" rule will be relaxed, and the duration of the cross-boundary joint venture contract of freight vehicles will be extended from three years to six.

Both sides are working towards the completion of the Shenzhen Bay Control Point for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor and the control point for the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line.

Co-location arrangements (like clearance services for both sides in the same premises) will be implemented at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to provide greater convenience to travellers and drivers.

Air Quality Index

The two sides will implement the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plan to achieve emission reduction targets by 2010. The air-quality monitoring network has already passed the acceptance test.

They agreed to make preparatory arrangements for reporting to the public the Regional Air Quality Index daily by year's end.

On the preparatory work for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau have reached a consensus on the landing points for it.

The feasibility study on the project has been largely completed. The findings are being assessed by the three parties, which will also discuss the next step to be taken with a view to expediting the project.