Promote to prosper: Chief Secretary Donald Tsang says Government promotion, coupled with market-driven strategies, is a key principle underlying cooperation within the Pan-Pearl River Delta region.

Government promotion, coupled with market-driven strategies, is a key principle underlying cooperation within the Pan-Pearl River Delta region, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang says, adding that policy research is a prerequisite of Government promotion efforts.

Addressing the Pan-PRD Think-tanks Cooperation Meeting organised by the Central Policy Unit today, Mr Tsang said cooperation among provincial, autonomous and special administrative region Governments in the Pan-PRD region will open up opportunities for Hong Kong.

He said areas within the Pan-PRD region are important manufacturing bases and consumer markets. With a cosmopolitan outlook and a competitive edge in capital, financing and information, Hong Kong will be a proactive promoter and service provider in enhancing the future development of the region.

"Being a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong can make use of its advantage to encourage regional and, in particular, private enterprises to set up offices here for activities in trading, investment and corporate finance. As such, the territory will become a 'gateway' to the world."

9 provinces, autonomous regions send representatives

Representatives from nine provinces/autonomous regions in the Mainland and the Macau Special Administrative Region came to Hong Kong to participate in the meeting.

They were joined by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, and Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong.

Participants discussed ways to further improve bilateral cooperation between Hong Kong and other signatories of the Pan-PRD Regional Cooperation Framework Agreement. They also exchanged views on how to enhance cooperation among Governments in the Pan-PRD region.

They said that Governments should optimise their functions, taking account of the development conditions and market needs in the Pan-PRD region.

Regional market system should be expedited

Under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", the establishment of a regional market system should be expedited to eliminate barriers of economic development, they said.

The further opening up of the market will enable enterprises in the Pan-PRD region to face global competition and cooperation in a better way.

There is also a need to co-ordinate the region's economic development through macro planning with respect to market forces.

Discussions focus on HK-Pan-PRD members cooperation

Discussions were held on the bilateral cooperation between Hong Kong and other members of the Pan-PRD region.

These included:

* the investment arrangements for Hong Kong business executives;

* Hong Kong's participation in infrastructure developments, particularly in transport and communication as well as energy development;

* the listing of Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong's Stock Exchange to raise capital;

* encouraging enterprises, especially private enterprises in the region, to set up business in Hong Kong and use Hong Kong as a gateway to international markets;

* the introduction of Hong Kong's logistics industry into the Mainland and the establishment of an efficient logistics network; and

* the joint development of tourist markets.

Research institutes agree to cooperate

Participants agreed that since the signing of the Framework Agreement in June, there has been more active economic and trading activities in the region. About 30 regional cooperation meetings had been held at official and non-official levels.