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The Seventh Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum (the PPRD Forum) is held in Nanchang, Jiangxi from September 20 to 22. On behalf of the Chief Executive, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, led the HKSARG delegation to attend. Under the theme of "co-operative development for a better future", the PPRD Forum discussed how to deepen co-operation in the region to speed up the transition of economic development and capitalise on the development opportunities.
On behalf of the Chief Executive, Mr Lam delivered a speech entitled, "sharing the development opportunities in the 12th Five-Year Period and fostering prosperity in the PPRD Region". He highlighted the development opportunities for the HKSAR and the PPRD Region under the dedicated chapter for Hong Kong and Macao in the National 12th Five-Year Plan as well as a series of supportive measures for the further development of Hong Kong announced by the Vice-Premier Li Keqiang last month. They demonstrated the strategic values of Hong Kong in the overall development of the nation. Mr Lam elucidated the three roles played by Hong Kong in the region, i.e. catalysing the manufacturing industry to restructure, upgrade and relocate; serving as an international financial centre for the Region; and propelling the development of service industries in the Region.
On the restructure, upgrade and relocation of manufacturing industry in the PPRD Region, Mr Lam remarked, "being in the vicinity of the manufacturing base in the Pearl River Delta, and with vast land and manpower resources, the PPRD Region enjoys a clear edge in attracting manufacturing industries."
He added, "the relevant provinces also invest heavily in infrastructure and introduce favourable policies in recent years to create an ideal environment for manufacturing industry relocation."
He encouraged the relevant PPRD provinces to step up promotion of manufacturing industry relocation opportunities to Hong Kong enterprises and continue to roll out policies which are conducive to investment.
On financial co-operation in the PPRD Region, Mr Lam said, "fortifying the position of Hong Kong as an international financial centre and an offshore Renminbi business centre is favourable to the development of the Region," For instance, as of end of this July, some 40 per cent, or around 600, of the total companies listed in Hong Kong are from the Mainland. Among them, about 200 are PPRD enterprises, representing an increase of over 30 per cent comparing with last September. The efficient and multi-currency financial market of Hong Kong offers ideal platform for the PPRD enterprises to enhance and expand their business, as well as to implement the "go global" strategy.
Stepping up the development of service industries is one of the cornerstones of the National 12th Five-Year Plan. The Central Government aims to basically liberalise services trade between Hong Kong and the Mainland via the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) at the end of the 12th Five-Year Period. Mr Lam said that the PPRD Region had close ties with Hong Kong, and would continue to act as the base for deepening the implementation of CEPA, in particular extending the early and pilot liberalisation measures. He mentioned that on tourism, Hong Kong would continue to work with ports in the Region with a view to enhancing the attractiveness of Hong Kong as the home port for cruise, and raising the overall competitiveness of cruise tour market in the region.
The nation aims to boost the share of contribution of the service sector to the overall economy from 43 per cent to 47 per cent. "With its superior service industries, Hong Kong is well poised to provide sound support to the nation during the course of the nation's development of service industries," Mr Lam stressed.
Other members of the HKSARG delegation include the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Joshua Law; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Wai Chi-sing; the Acting Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Mr Cheng Yan-chee; and other government officials.
Ends/Wednesday, September 21, 2011
SCMA attends 7th PPRD Forum (1)
On behalf of the Chief Executive, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, today (September 21) led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation to attend the Seventh Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Fair in Nanchang, Jiangxi. The photo shows Mr Lam (second right, front row) and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So (fourth right, middle row), attending the opening ceremony of the forum at Nanchang International Exhibition Centre this morning.
SCMA attends 7th PPRD Forum (2)
Mr Lam (first right) and Mr So (fourth right) accompany the Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Ms Chen Zhili (third right), to visit the Hong Kong Pavilion.
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