Government promotion, coupled with market-driven strategies, is a key principle underlying cooperation within the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang said on Friday.

Addressing the Pan-PRD Think-tanks Cooperation Meeting organized by the Central Policy Unit, Tsang said policy research is a prerequisite of government promotion efforts, noting cooperation among provincial, autonomous and special administrative region governments in the Pan-PRD region will open up opportunities for Hong Kong.

He said areas within the Pan-PRD region are important manufacturing bases and consumer markets. With a cosmopolitan outlook and a competitive edge in capital, financing and information, Hong Kong will be a proactive promoter and service provider in enhancing the future development of the region. "Being a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong can make use of its advantage to encourage regional and, in particular, private enterprises to set up offices here for activities in trading, investment and corporate finance. As such, the territory will become a 'gateway' to the world," Tsang said.

Representatives from nine provinces/autonomous regions in the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region cameto Hong Kong to participate in the meeting.
 
(China Daily November 27, 2004)