Consensus reached: Chief Secretary Rafael Hui (centre)introduces Hong Kong policy secretaries to their Guangdong counterparts as both sides work out infrastructural agreements.

The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor and Shenzhen Bay Port are expected to open in July, after both sides agreed to do their best at the eighth working meeting of the Hong Kong-Guangdong cooperation joint conference in Guangzhou today.

They are also finalising detailed arrangements on the control point's opening.

At the meeting, co-chaired by Chief Secretary Rafael Hui and Guangdong Executive Vice-Governor Tang Bingquan, implementation plans for other infrastructural projects were also agreed.

The Lok Ma Chau spur line and Futian Port are scheduled to open in the first half of this year. Hong Kong's works are near completion and on schedule.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway has been invited to work on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong express rail link's project planning, and will submit a report in the middle of the year.

Both sides are closely following reports on the control point and financing of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project. They hope to see an early completion of the feasibility study for the Central Government's approval.

Both Shenzhen and Hong Kong have hired consultants to study the land-use planning, infrastructure requirements and road links for the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai control point. Shenzhen's report is expected to be ready by the end of this year while Hong Kong's should be out early next year.

The Hong Kong delegation included Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee, and Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food, Dr York Chow.