Building Hong Kong into a Regional
Metropolis
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28. The Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government has in recent years intensified its co-operation with the Pearl River Delta (PRD). We have facilitated the flow of people and goods by redeploying resources and streamlining procedures, and are building Hong Kong into a regional metropolis. With the support of the Central Government and the Guangdong Provincial and Municipal Governments, we have achieved substantial progress. In the fourth quarter of last year, the flow of people through the land control points was 9% higher than for the same period in 2001. The number of goods vehicles crossing the boundary also rose by 8%.
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29. We will continue to improve facilities at our boundary crossings and construct new cross-boundary links. In the second half of this year, we will begin the construction of the Shenzhen Western Corridor link to Shekou in Shenzhen. We are studying the feasibility of constructing a new vehicular bridge at Lok Ma Chau to facilitate the cross-boundary transportation of cargo. Moreover, the SAR and the Mainland are currently discussing the construction of a bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and the western part of the PRD as well as a Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong express railway. The feasibility of simplifying visa application procedures for Mainland residents to visit Hong Kong is also under study with the aim of enabling individual travellers from Guangdong to visit Hong Kong in a personal capacity.
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30. Hong Kong is a strategic two-way platform for business between the Mainland and the rest of the world. To attract more overseas companies to invest in the Greater PRD and to set up office in Hong Kong, the Government will provide additional funding of $200 million over the coming five years for promotional activities. To enhance the effectiveness of our promotional efforts, we will work together with the business sector and the Guangdong authorities to run overseas promotions. Many local businessmen have expressed their strong support for such a partnership. They are ready and willing to contribute their time and make use of their international connections to help the Government promote the investment strengths offered by Hong Kong and the Greater PRD. Invest Hong Kong will co-ordinate such promotions.
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31. We are speeding up our discussion on the Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with the Central Government, with a view to reaching an arrangement on the main parts in June. We have made progress in recent discussions.
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