Latest news with #ConstitutionalandMainlandAffairs
RTHK
05-08-2025
- Business
- RTHK
'HK and Macau to leverage collaborative strength'
'HK and Macau to leverage collaborative strength' John Lee led a delegation to Macau to meet his counterpart Sam Hou-fai. Photo courtesy of Information Services Department Chief Executive John Lee emphasised the crucial roles of the Hong Kong and Macau SARs within the Greater Bay Area during an official visit to Macau on Tuesday. Leading a high-level delegation, Lee met with Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai. In a statement following the meeting, Lee said the two SARs will continue to harness their collaborative strengths across key sectors including the economy, cross-boundary infrastructure, tourism and culture. He said both Hong Kong and Macau are integral parts of the Greater Bay Area and will continue to promote its development. The Hong Kong delegation visited the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin during the visit. Lee highlighted the strategic significance of the cooperation zone, describing it as a key initiative designed to enrich the practice of One Country, Two Systems, fostering Macau's long-term prosperity, stability and integration into national development plans. The delegation also toured a Chinese medicine centre there to learn about the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and the cultural tourism industry. The group also visited the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Planning Exhibition Hall that features more than 600 exhibits on new products and technologies. The Hong Kong delegation included Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan and director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip. Lee and the officials returned to Hong Kong later in the day.
RTHK
19-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Tap into GBA, Tsang urges Hungarian firms
Tap into GBA, Tsang urges Hungarian firms Erick Tsang, second right, attends an economic and trade conference in Budapest. Photo: Information Services Department Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang has called on Hungarian businesses to set up their Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong to seize the "boundless opportunities" of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Speaking at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area - Europe (Hungary) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference in Budapest, the minister hailed Hong Kong's position as GBA's international entry point and the role as a "super connector". "Set up your Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong, before expanding your footprint. And get registered in say Shenzhen, to enjoy the option of using Hong Kong laws as applicable laws on specific civil and commercial contracts and choosing Hong Kong as a seat of arbitration," Tsang said. "Or lease on Hong Kong Stock Exchange to access mainland and global capital. Or, leverage the Hong Kong International Airport and its logistic part in Dongguan, for transshipment of goods into the GBA from abroad, or vice versa." He highlighted the SAR's unique advantages under One Country, Two Systems, with the city integrating into national development and playing an key role in driving high-quality development of the GBA.
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmakers concerned over 52% increase in coming Legco election spending
Hong Kong lawmakers have expressed concerns about a 52 per cent jump in spending for the coming Legislative Council election, compared with four years ago, questioning whether the additional resources will warrant a high voter turnout. Advertisement Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai defended the increased costs on Wednesday, saying election promotional efforts were of key importance and stressing no turnout target had been set as it depended on many factors. Tsang and lawmakers discussed the government's plan to spend HK$1.28 billion on the December 7 election, set to be the second under a 'patriots-only' electoral overhaul. The planned budget represents a 52 per cent surge from the HK$841 million spent on the 2021 election, which had a turnout of only 30.2 per cent – the lowest since the city's return to Chinese rule in 1997. In a paper submitted to the Legco finance committee on Monday, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said the increase would be mainly spent on election promotion and technological appliances. Advertisement Authorities will allocate HK$177 million for election promotion, HK$814 million for technological appliances and voting venues' rents, and HK$289 million to pay the possible 37,000 personnel, according to the paper.
