The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Li Guoying, at the Government House today (April 1) to witness the signing of an arrangement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on the management and co-operation of water-related affairs.
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, and the Director General of the General Office of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Tang Liang, represented the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Water Resources respectively to sign the arrangement. The arrangement will strengthen the governance and protection of the Pearl River Estuary and the rivers along the Guangdong-Hong Kong boundary, and promote co-operation in disaster prevention and mitigation; water supply safety; planning and management of major projects; information sharing; talent cultivation; hydraulic technology and more.
Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Water Resources for its continuous and full support of Hong Kong's efforts in water supply and flood prevention. He said, "This year marks the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong. It is of great significance that the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Water Resources signed the arrangement at this milestone to strengthen co-operation on water-related affairs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The HKSAR Government will continue to adhere to the principles of water conservation and enhancement of utilisation efficiency and work together with the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure the safety of water supply to Hong Kong and flood control safety of the Pearl River Estuary and the rivers along the Guangdong-Hong Kong boundary, and to provide water resources support and guarantee for the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."
Mr Li said that establishing a standing mechanism for exchange and co-operation marks a new milestone in water affairs co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. He said, "The Ministry will strengthen water resources co-operation with the HKSAR Government on all fronts, continuously enhance the water safety system in the Greater Bay Area, and provide stronger water safety guarantees for high-quality development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."
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