The Chief Executive, Edmund Ho today (14 Jan) reiterated that Macao would fully support any measure that benefits the further integration of the Pearl River Delta.

However, he noted that all developments should take reasonable paces that could incorporate necessary consideration in all aspects.

Edmund Ho today paid a one-day visit to Guangzhou where he met with the member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC, Zhang Dejiang and the governor of the Guangdong Provincial Government, Lu Ruihua.

No specific project had been discussed during the meeting with Lu Ruihua today, said Edmund Ho, emphasizing that the two authorities have already reached consensus on issues such as the Cross-border Industrial Zone and the joint development of Hengqin Island earlier.

Edmund Ho said that he would visit Zhuhai next week during which the two projects would be thoroughly discussed, adding that he had commissioned an ad hoc group to follow on the establishment of the Cross-border Industrial Zone.

When asked about the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bridge, He said that Guangdong province and the two SARs had all expressed the wish for an integrated network that flourishes the traffic in the Pearl River Delta, yet the building of the bridge was not the only measure in this aspect and should not be viewed as the perimeter for cooperation between authorities.

He further said that references necessary for further discussion on the project, such as scientific study reports and data were yet to be produced.

Lu Ruihua stressed after the meeting that the three authorities had came to a consensus about the bridge, yet ecological impact and feasibilities should be study thoroughly with a project of such scale.

Earlier today, Zhang Dejiang affirmed to Edmund Ho during their meeting that Guangdong province would stick to the policy of the Central Government and give full support to the two SARs.