HONG KONG – Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu today met with his Macau counterpart Ho Iat Seng at Government House to exchange views on promoting Hong Kong's cooperation with Macau and the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), according to a statement by Hong Kong's Information Services Department (ISD).
The ISD statement quoted Lee as saying that travel between Hong Kong and Macau has been "vigorous" since the full resumption of normal travel on February 6, demonstrating the close ties and connection between the two sides.
Lee underlined that Hong Kong and Macau, as the country's special administrative regions (SARs), uphold the principle of "One Country" while leveraging the advantages of "Two Systems". With the unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems" principle, both places are integrated into the mainland and having strong international connectivity, serving as a bridge linking the mainland and the rest of the world.
In addition, Lee said, the two SARs jointly promote the regional development of the GBA, while participating in, contributing to and benefiting from the nation's prosperous development.
Lee also introduced Ho and his delegation to the establishment of the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, which is chaired by him. The strengthened top-level coordination and leadership will enable Hong Kong to more proactively integrate into the country's overall development, Lee said.
Lee emphasised that Hong Kong and Macau have all along been maintaining close cooperation in various important areas, including commerce, cross-border infrastructure and cultural tourism, with a view to jointly promoting the development of the GBA. For example, Lee noted, since the signing of the Hong Kong & Macau Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement in 2017, Hong Kong enterprises have captured more and better business opportunities in Macau, facilitating the flow of commerce and investment between both sides.
Lee also said, according to the statement, that he was pleased to know that Ho and his entourage visited the Science Park and the Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development under the InnoHK in cooperation with the University of Macau (UM) in the morning to learn about Hong Kong's achievements in promoting innovation and technology development.
Lee also welcomed the Macau Government Tourism Office's (MGTO) invitation to a large-scale delegation formed by members of the Hong Kong tourism sector to visit Macau earlier this month so as to step up joint tourism promotion and the development of tourism industry of both sides.
Noting that he will visit Macau next week, Lee said he was looking forward to having an in-depth discussion with Ho on further deepening Hong Kong's cooperation with Macau, with a view to generating stronger impetus to the growth of the GBA and making a greater contribution to national development.
Meanwhile, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement tonight that Ho and Lee agreed on deepening bilateral exchanges, thereby ensuring that the two SARs can complement the advantages of the other, in order to advance the development of the GBA.
The GCS statement quoted Ho as saying during his one-day working visit to Hong Kong that the two SARs should further strengthen cooperation and coordinated development in various fields such as scientific and technological innovation, finance, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), tourism, culture and sports events, with the aim of promoting reciprocal cooperation benefitting the two sides' industrial and economic development.
As Hong Kong and Macau are parts of the GBA, which also includes nine cities in Guangdong province, the two SARs should further strengthen cooperation, and step up their contributions toward the high-quality development of the area, as well as the process of integration into the overall national development, Ho said.
Regarding legislation on national security matters, Ho and Lee noted, according to the GCS statement, that although the legal systems of the two SARs are different, there are still many aspects in common. Both should strengthen exchanges and communication regarding their legal frameworks, and their enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, the statement quoted them as saying.
Ho's delegation included Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong and the chief-of-office of the Macau SAR Chief Executive’s Office, Hoi Lai Fong, the GCS statement pointed out.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the director of the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive's Office, Carol Yip Man-kuen, also attended the meeting between the two chief executives.
– MPD, ISD, GCS
Caption: MSAR Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (left) and HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pose during their working meeting at Government House in Hong Kong today. – Photo: ISD
