The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Mr Cheong Weng Chon, today said that the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government would join hands with the Guangdong Government in implementing measures outlined in the Master Plan for the Development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Secretary Cheong made the remarks during a press conference held in Beijing by the State Council Information Office regarding the development of Hengqin and Qianhai. Mr Cheong took part in the press conference and took reporters' questions via video link.
During the press conference, Mr Cheong said the Master Plan was an important strategy for realising instructions given by President Xi Jinping. The Master Plan was a paramount initiative to support Macao’s economic diversification and enrich further the practise of the “One country, two systems” principle in Macao. The Master Plan created fresh impetus for Macao’s long-term development, while providing new space – and new opportunities – for development.
Under the leadership of the Chief Executive of the MSAR, Mr Ho Iat Seng, and with concerted effort from across the community, Macao would dedicate utmost effort to seizing the opportunities presented under the Master Plan, Mr Cheong said.
Secretary Cheong shared insight during the press conference regarding four major tasks for Macao in the next phase of work. They were: 1) to study in-depth, and gain serious understanding of, the aspirations and policy direction of the Master Plan, ensuring a path for future effort; 2) to bolster promotion of the Master Plan to the community, in order to let the Macao public understand the significance of it for Macao; 3) to foster cooperation with Guangdong, for the two places to complement each other’s strengths in order to create a sound foundation for reciprocal benefits; 4) to do detailed planning for each task outlined in the Master Plan, including assigning responsibility to public departments for specific duties.
Taking questions from reporters, Mr Cheong said advancing adequate economic diversification had been the forefront task of the current-term Government. The focus of this effort included: traditional Chinese medicine; modern financial industry; high and new technology; and cultural tourism, convention and exhibition, commercial and trade industries.
Great effort had been made to improve laws governing development of the relevant sectors and to enhance the business environment for them. The MSAR Government was pressing ahead with work relating to the use of “production supervised by Macao”, “produced by Macao” or “Macao designed” labelling on traditional Chinese medicine products, food products and health products, to be approved and registered in Macao and produced in the Cooperation Zone. The MSAR Government was also fostering enterprise relating to: integrated circuits; electronic components; new materials; and modern financial services, such as wealth management, bond market operations, financial leasing, and cross-border renminbi clearance. It was also advancing development linked to tourism-related industries, such as the leisure and holiday sectors, and convention and exhibition and sports event tourism.
Secretary Cheong went on to say that the MSAR Government had in recent years enhanced support for Macao young people to work or start a business in Hengqin, and would continue to create better conditions for young people to work, start a business or live in Hengqin. The MSAR Government would assess how to enable Macao young people to enjoy the benefit of supportive measures available both in Macao and in Guangdong, he added. These would create more opportunities and space for young people to choose their career development path, Mr Cheong said.
Other officials taking part in the press conference were: Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and Deputy Chairman of the Office of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Cong Liang; Vice Minister of Finance, Mr Xu Hongcai; Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China and Administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Mr Pan Gongsheng; Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, Mr Zou Zhiwu; member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Lin Keqing; Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Mr Qin Weizhong; and Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr John Lee Ka-chiu.
