Perfect partnership: Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang and Guangdong Executive Vice-Governor Tang Bingqua attend the 10th working meeting of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in Guangzhou.

The Government will allocate $93 million to launch a five-year Cleaner Production Partnership Programme in April to encourage enterprises in Hong Kong and Guangdong to help improve the regional environment.

Guangdong will jointly promote the programme and explore appropriate arrangements to encourage Hong Kong-owned factories and environmental technology service providers in both jurisdictions to participate in the scheme.

At the 10th working meeting of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in Guangzhou today Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang and Guangdong Executive Vice-Governor Tang Bingquan agreed on the implementation plans for a number of key co-operation areas for the coming months.

Bridge project progress

On the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project, both sides said more than 20 topical studies have been completed under the feasibility study. They agreed on pressing ahead with the remaining topical studies and striving for early implementation. 

The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Preliminary Planning Study on Developing the Liantang-Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point will soon be completed. The Hong Kong Government's internal planning study on the development of the new control point on the Hong Kong side will also be completed in the first quarter.

Specific work will be discussed in detail by the newly established Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Task Force on Boundary District Development.

The two jurisdictions will introduce a new operation mode under which joint funding applications from institutions from both places will be accepted to support projects on white LED core technologies with high power efficiency and energy-saving and new energy vehicles.

Processing trade support

Both jurisdictions will continue to support Hong Kong enterprises in Guangdong to restructure and upgrade through the Hong Kong-Guangdong Expert Group on the Restructuring & Upgrading of the Processing Trade.

The tourism authorities of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau will enhance the existing tripartite co-operation by setting up the Committee on Tourism Co-operation in Hong Kong, Guangdong & Macau to enhance joint tourism promotion and develop more multi-destination itineraries targeting different source markets.