Work is expected to start soon on the express railway connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Making the announcement at the National People's Congress on Sunday (Mar. 7), Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua also said a proposal to build a bridge connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao was being assessed by national transport planning experts.

He proposed the concept of the "Greater Pearl River Delta" to include Hong Kong and Macao. He said Guangdong's development should be closely related to the development of Hong Kong and Macao. With Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen as the axis, the "Greater Pearl River Delta" would become one of the most competitive economic hubs in the world, the governor said.

Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities held six cooperation conferences last year, negotiating 92 agreements, among which 37 had been finalized, Huang said.

From May, all Guangdong permanent residents will be eligible to tour Hong Kong individually, the governor said. At present, only residents of 14 Guangdong cities have the privilege.

(Southcn.com March 15, 2004)