Press Releases

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, met the Mayor of Taichung City, Mr Jason Hu, this morning (April 14) and briefed him on Hong Kong's experience under the framework of Guangdong-Hong Kong co-operation. Following is a transcript (English portion) of the meet-the-media session after the meeting:

Reporter: Mr Lam, what can Hong Kong learn from Taiwan in terms of democratic development?

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I would say that today's organisation of a Hong Kong-Taiwan Inter-City Forum is premised primarily on economic co-operation. During the last hour, I have introduced to Mayor Jason Hu our experience since the transition in 1997-98 of co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong. This has been a very productive co-operation relationship. We have spent time focusing on this because there is now an elevation of cross-trade relations and co-operation. We believe that in Taiwan, since they have started to receive direct travel scheme participants, our experience in Hong Kong will have a relevance to them. Also, now that we have opened the channel for this inter-city forum, we shall extend such co-operation and liaison between Hong Kong and Taiwan to other cities. For the time being, we are focused primarily on economic co-operation.

Reporter: In what way is this a breakthrough?

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: This is a breakthrough because this is the first time the Hong Kong Government has invited a city government from Taiwan to take part in a bilateral inter-city forum, with exchanges focused on trade, tourism and other developments. We believe that it is entirely possible for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Guangdong and as suggested by the Mayor, with Fujian, to build such co-operation relationship. In Hong Kong in the last 10 years or so, we have built a strong co-operation relationship between Hong Kong and Guangdong, also between Hong Kong and the Pan-Pearl River Delta.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, April 14, 2009

SCMA meets Mayor of Taichung City (1)

The Mayor of Taichung City, Mr Jason Hu, led a delegation visiting Hong Kong this week. Photo shows the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, welcoming Mr Hu this (April 14) morning.

SCMA meets Mayor of Taichung City (2)

Photo shows the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, giving a briefing to the Mayor of Taichung City, Mr Jason Hu, this morning (April 14) on Hong Kong's experience under the Guangdong-Hong Kong co-operation framework.

SCMA meets Mayor of Taichung City (3)

Photo shows the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, presenting a souvenir to the Mayor of Taichung City, Mr Jason Hu, this morning (April 14).