The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, will lead a delegation to Sanya, Hainan Province from 16 to 18 September to attend the 2020 Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Cooperation Executive Chiefs Joint Meeting.

The Joint Meeting will be held on Friday morning (18 September). During the three-day visit, Mr Ho will meet respectively with leaders of PPRD Region attending the Joint Meeting, in order to exchange views on topics of mutual concern.

The Joint Meeting is a platform launched in 2004 for regional cooperation between the nine provinces and two special administrative regions (SARs) – collectively known as the “9+2” – located in the Greater Pearl River Delta Region, namely: Fujian; Jiangxi; Hunan; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan; Sichuan; Guizhou; Yunnan; the Hong Kong SAR; and the Macao SAR.

With a theme of "sharing the opportunities of Hainan free-trade port and promoting joint development of the Pearl River Pan-Delta Region" for this year, PPRD leaders will discuss three topics, namely: 1) sharing fresh opportunities of the advancing free-trade port and jointly building a platform for system integration and innovation; 2) building together a modern transport network composed of large-scale ports, corridors and centers; and 3) promoting high-quality development for regional cooperation within the PPRD Region.

In addition, the progresses made since 2019 and a work report from the secretariat of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Cooperation and Development Forum will also be reviewed during the meeting.

Government officials accompanying Mr Ho to Hainan include: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Lei Wai Nong; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Hoi Lai Fong; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Ms Chan Lou; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui.

While Mr Ho is away, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Mr Cheong Weng Chon, will be the acting Chief Executive.