Aerial photo taken on Oct. 24, 2018 shows a vehicle running on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (Xinhua)
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Monday welcomed the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by the central government.
Lam expressed gratitude to the central government for placing importance on the HKSAR government's views in the process of drafting the plan, which sets out the directions guiding the Greater Bay Area's development.
A HKSAR government spokesperson described the plan as "a major development strategy in the country's reform and opening-up in the new era."
The spokesperson said that the development of the Greater Bay Area will bring opportunities for Hong Kong in two aspects, namely helping Hong Kong find new drivers for economic growth and advance the diversified development of the local economy and industries, as well as expand the living and development space of Hong Kong residents.
"The HKSAR government will fully seize the opportunities brought about by the development of the Greater Bay Area, integrate the needs of the country with the strengths of Hong Kong and fully leverage the market-driven mechanism, enabling Hong Kong to enjoy brighter development prospects amid its integration into the overall development of the country," said the spokesperson.
The HKSAR government will actively work with the relevant ministries and commissions of the central government, the Guangdong provincial government, and the Macao SAR government to jointly advance the development of the Greater Bay Area in accordance with the plan, the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the Macao Special Administrative Region government also welcomed the news.
The Macao SAR government is thankful to the central government for attaching great attention to and supporting Macao's involvement in the development of the Greater Bay Area and would study the plan well and work for its implementation, said a statement issued by the Macao SAR government information bureau.
The Macao SAR is ready to further integrate into the national development plan and assume its own responsibilities, Chief Executive Chui Sai On said on Monday night.
The plan, which is of great importance and provides great opportunities for the Macao SAR, explicated the Macao SAR's role in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its important position in the national strategy, Chui noted.
The Macao SAR is willing to enhance cooperation with other cities in the Greater Bay Area and make its own contributions to the national strategic development, so as to achieve greater success in terms of integration into national development, Chui added.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency
