HK 12 years: Pearl river delta development

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The State Council issued an outline for reform and development of the Pearl River Delta earlier this year. Since then, Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong have established a regional coordination mechanism, speeding up the region's economic and trade cooperation.

The State Council issued an outline for reform and development of  the Pearl River Delta earlier this year. Since then, Hong Kong,  Macao and Guangdong have established a regional coordination mechanism, speeding up the region's economic and trade cooperation.

As part of our special series looking at the 12 years since Hong Kong returned to China, today we take a look at the development of relations between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Special Administration Region and Guangdong Province signed 25 trade deals worth a total of 1.2 billion US dollars at this year's business fair in Hong Kong. The service sector has become a new area for cooperation since the mainland opened its service industry to Hong Kong and Macao. In the first four months of 2009, Guangdong's service industry has received 3.3 billion dollars of investment from Hong Kong.

Ronald Wong, Regional director of HK Trade Development Council, said, "How to cooperate with mainland companies is a key issue for Hong Kong service enterprises, especially in the finance sector. So we plan to hold events in a few months to promote the development of this area."

In February, Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland set up a group to implement the outline. The three sides met in Hong Kong, announcing a basic coordination framework in infrastructure construction, city planning, environmental protection and education and training.

Henry Tang, HK chief secretary for administration, said, "I hope that in 2020 the Pearl River Delta area will be the most energetic economic zone in the world."

By that time, Tang says he hopes the population in this area will reach at least 70 million, with per capita GDP of more than 10,000 US dollars.