The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, presented four pieces of advice regarding the development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, during the first meeting of the Cooperation Zone’s administrative committee held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

The meeting on Friday (22 October) was critical in terms of tone regarding initiation of the development of the Cooperation Zone, which running under a new model – designed by the Central Government – involving mutual discussion, joint construction, joint administration, and shared benefits.

The meeting was co-hosted by the two directors of the administrative committee, namely Mr Ho and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the planning for the Cooperation Zone’s work, and approved a trial version of the rules for the workings of the administrative committee. While in Guangzhou, there was a ceremony to present appointment certificates to the secretaries-general of the administrative committee and leading officials of the executive committee.

Delivering a speech at the meeting, Mr Ho said the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government would work closely with the Guangdong Government, acting in line with the Central Government’s planning, in order to advance development of the Cooperation Zone. Under the Cooperation Zone’s new model of collaboration, Macao and Guangdong would carry out work based on laws and regulations, and employ the principle of scientific decision-making, marked by a high degree of efficiency. These efforts would be conducive to turning the Cooperation Zone into a new paradigm to demonstrate the advantages of the “two systems” principle with Chinese characteristics, added Mr Ho.

The four pieces of advice shared by the Chief Executive during the meeting were as follows:

1) The need to double effort to boost economic development, with an emphasis on: the healthcare industry with traditional Chinese medicine as the starting point; as well as modern financial industry; high and new technology; and also the cultural tourism, convention and exhibition, sports, and commercial and trade industries;

2) The need to further the effort to attract talented individuals to the Cooperation Zone, especially highly skilled professionals;

3) The need to deepen cooperation on social affairs and livelihood issues, by setting up in the Cooperation Zone a greater number of quality services in education, healthcare and community service;

4) The need to speed up development regarding the legal system of the Cooperation Zone. The basis of this would be the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the MSAR, in order to establish step by step a civil and commercial affairs regulatory system that can align with that of Macao and with international criteria.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive also called on the newly-inaugurated officials of the Cooperation Zone to work in line with the requirements outlined by President Xi Jinping, and to uphold closely the fundamental principle for the Cooperation Zone, i.e., mutual discussion, joint construction, joint administration, and shared benefits, in a bid to realise the goals outlined in the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Mr Ma said in his speech that work relating to the development of the Cooperation Zone was progressing, as required under the overall guidelines from the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and thanks to concerted effort made jointly by Guangdong and Macao.

Currently, development of the Cooperation Zone was in a new phase of comprehensive and accelerated implementation, said Mr Ma. Guangdong and Macao would work responsibly and with a sense of mission, to roll out work for pivotal elements. These included: optimising management systems for the Cooperation Zone; stepping up effort to attract large-scale enterprises and major projects to set up base in the Cooperation Zone; strengthening communication and coordination mechanisms externally and internally; and speeding up the implementation of major and innovative policies benefitting the Cooperation Zone. These initiatives would help promote development of the Cooperation Zone, while enriching the practise of the “One country, two systems” principle, supporting Macao’s adequate economic diversification effort, and furthering the MSAR’s integration into overall national development, added Mr Ma.

Officials presented with appointment certificates included the two secretaries-general of the administrative committee, i.e., the Director of the Hengqin Office of the Guangdong Government, Mr Nie Xinping, and the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the MSAR Government, Mr Lei Wai Nong. The executive deputy director of the administrative committee is the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the MSAR Government, Mr Cheong Weng Chon. Deputy directors of the administrative committee are: Executive Vice Governor of Guangdong Mr Lin Keqing; Vice Governor of Guangdong Mr Zhang Xin; Vice Governor of Guangdong Mr Guo Yonghang; Secretary for Security of the MSAR Government Mr Wong Sio Chak; and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the MSAR Government Ms Ao Ieong U.

Secretary Lei is also the chairman of the Cooperation Zone’s executive committee. Deputy chairpersons of the Cooperation Zone’s executive committee are: Mr Nie Xinping; Mr Fu Yongge; Mr Niu Jing; Ms Hoi Lai Fong; Mr Su Kun, and Mr Ng Chi Kin.