In session: Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Rita Lau (second from right) attends the third meeting of the Expert Group on Hong Kong-Guangdong Town Planning & Development.

The Expert Group on Hong Kong-Guangdong Town Planning & Development is satisfied with the progress of the Planning Study on the Co-ordinated Development of the Greater Pearl River Delta Township. The study will be completed in early 2008.

The group held its third meeting in Hong Kong today, co-chaired by Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Rita Lau and Guangdong Provincial Department of Construction Deputy Director Fang Qingfang. They reviewed progress on the planning study, the co-operation agreement of which was signed at the second meeting held in Zhuhai last year.

The study will formulate a regional development strategy for the region by taking a forward-looking perspective to consider and analyse the development approach of various cities within the region under the 'One country, two systems' framework.

Since March, the study consultants - the Peking University and the Guangdong Urban & Rural Planning & Design Institute - have gathered the views of town-planning experts, academics and stakeholders, and solicited input from authorities of both sides and Macau. For details click here.