The Legislative Council ("LegCo") Panel on Economic Development, Panel on Commerce and Industry, Panel on Financial Affairs, and Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting will depart for the major cities in the Yangtze River Delta ("YRD") Region tomorrow (21 April) to conduct a four-day joint-Panel duty visit to better understand their economic, financial and innovation and technology  developments.

The YRD Region was one of the first regions in the Mainland to develop and open-up, and is now known for its competitive and innovative industries. Cities and provinces in the Region have their own strengths in specific areas. Shanghai is a logistics and financial centre, while Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces have strong manufacturing bases.

The Yangtze River Delta Regional Cooperation Office issued a three-year action plan (2018-2020) for the Region's integrative development last year, which aims to integrate the economies of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, and Shanghai, through coordination and collaborative development. The action plan covers cooperation in 12 economic sectors including transportation energy, scientific innovation, industry, informatization, environmental protection and public services. It also focuses on seven key aspects for integrated development in the Region including transportation connectivity, industrial innovation, and collaborative and orderly opening-up of the market.

In view of the strategic significance of the development of the YRD Region to Hong Kong, the purpose of the duty visit is for Members to visit Shanghai and Hangzhou to see for themselves the latest development of the Region.  Members will also take the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Zhejiang Provincial Government and the Shanghai Municipal Government as well as attending a seminar on "the latest development of regional integration of the Yangtze River Delta".  During the visit, Members will also meet with Hong Kong people living in Zhejiang and Shanghai.

The delegation will visit the following places:

21 to 24 April 2019 (Sunday to Wednesday)

Shanghai

• Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Fudan Unviersity
• Zhangjiang Science City
• Shanghai Stock Exchange
• Changyang Campus
• West Bund Xuhui Waterfront
• Huangpu River

Hangzhou

• Hangzhou Public Service Center
• Alibaba Group
• Hangzhou National High-Tech Industries Development Zone
• Hangzhou LHD New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd.
• WeDoctor Group

The joint-Panel delegation is led by the President of LegCo, Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen. Deputy delegation leaders are the Chairman of Panel on Commerce and Industry, Hon YIU Si-wing; the Chairman of Panel on Financial Affairs, Hon Christopher CHEUNG Wah-fung; the Chairman of Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting, Dr Hon Elizabeth QUAT; and the Chairman of Panel on Economic Development, Hon CHUNG Kwok-pan.  Other participating Panel members include Hon Jeffrey LAM Kin-fung, Hon CHAN Kin-por, Hon WONG Kwok-kin, Hon Alice MAK Mei-kuen, Ir Dr Hon LO Wai-kwok, Hon Jimmy NG Wing-ka, Dr Hon Junius HO Kwan-yiu, Hon YUNG Hoi-yan, Hon CHAN Chun-ying, Hon LUK Chung-hung and Hon LAU Kwok-fan as well as non-Panel members Dr Hon Priscilla LEUNG Mei-fun, Hon LEUNG Che-cheung, Hon KWOK Wai-keung, Hon HO Kai-ming, Hon Kenneth LAU IP-keung and Hon Tony TSE Wai-chuen.

Meanwhile, at the invitation of the joint-Panel delegation, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick NIP Tak-kuen; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas YANG Wei-hsiung; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Henry LAU; and the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard CHAN Pak-li, will also join the duty visit.

Ends/Saturday, 20 April 2019
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