The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, arrived in Guangzhou this morning (May 16) to attend the 21st Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference. Also, Mrs Lam and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, signed the 2019 Work Plan of the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation and presented plaques in recognition of the entrepreneurial bases in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area at a presentation ceremony. At noon, she attended a lunch hosted by the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Li Xi and Mr Ma. After attending the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference, Mrs Lam and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, departed for Foshan where they commenced their visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities in the afternoon.
Accompanied by the Mayor of the Foshan Municipal Government, Mr Zhu Wei, Mrs Lam first viewed the planning of the neighbouring areas on the Haiyi Bridge and then visited the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Technology Exhibition and Exchange Center where she was briefed on the history and latest developments of Foshan. She also viewed the centre's co-working space to learn more about Foshan's policy measures to attract start-ups and ancillary facilities in the vicinity and chatted with young Hong Kong entrepreneurs at the centre. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Technology Exhibition and Exchange Center is a platform providing incubation space and entrepreneurial services jointly set up by the local government and a Hong Kong enterprise, and is one of the first such entrepreneurial bases in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Mrs Lam and the other officials then visited the Xiqiao National Arts Studio to learn about Foshan's policy measures to support the development of the film and television industry. The Xiqiao National Arts Studio, an investment project of a listed Hong Kong company, provides large-scale film and television programme shooting venues based on old Hong Kong street scenes and scenes from various other places. Some overseas films and television drama series are also shot there every year. In addition, the studio includes a sightseeing and recreational facility featuring a film shooting theme park, hotels and performance venues. Mrs Lam said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced a series of measures in the Policy Address last year to support the development of Hong Kong's film industry. Given the relaxation measures agreed by the relevant Central authorities last month to further assist the entry of Hong Kong's film industry into the Mainland market, and hardware facilities such as the studio, Hong Kong's film industry has plenty of scope for development, she said.
Mrs Lam and the other officials then visited the Tingyin Lake to learn about Foshan's cultural tourism development, as well as attending a dinner hosted by Mr Zhu.
Mrs Lam departed for Zhaoqing in the evening and will continue her visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities tomorrow (May 17).
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