Hong Kong, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's cooperation with Guangdong over the past year has been fruitful thanks to the efforts of both Governments, said Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Donald Tsang here Wednesday.
Delivering the 2008-09 Policy Address at the Legislative Council Wednesday morning, Tsang said the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have reached a consensus on funding the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which has allowed Hong Kong to advance the start of construction to no later than 2010.
He said the recently-signed Supplement V to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement will usher in a new phase of co-operation under a package of service liberalization and facilitation measures for early and pilot implementation in Guangdong province.
"We should step up efforts to pragmatically take forward priority joint ventures in the short to medium term," Tsang said. He said the HKSAR government has to focus on promoting cooperation in service industries, actively working with Guangdong to optimize and upgrade its industrial structure while assisting Hong Kong enterprises to respond to mainland policy adjustments, and actively facilitating cross-boundary environmental protection to create a green and quality living area in the Pearl River Delta( PAD) Region.
"We also need to strengthen co-ordination in the planning and implementation of cross-boundary infrastructure projects," He added.
The policy address, titled "Embracing New Challenges," responded to Hong Kong's new challenges, including the current global financial crisis, food safety and environmental pollution.
The Policy Address was Tsang's second annual policy address since he won a second term as HKSAR Chief Executive in March 2007.
