The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, concluded his visit to Beijing today (March 21).
Mr Tse met with representatives from the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) in the morning and discussed issues including green development, ocean governance and biodiversity. He pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has rich marine natural assets and biodiversity, and will further co-operate with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the future to strengthen environmental protection and ecological conservation, jointly building a beautiful bay area. He also invited the CBCGDF to participate further in Hong Kong's conservation work and environmental education, working together to promote green and sustainable development.
Mr Tse visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in the afternoon and met with the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Zhang Xingwang. Mr Tse introduced various measures under the HKSAR Government's Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries, which aims to promote modernisation and intensification of agriculture and the fisheries, and to gradually upgrade and transform the industry to provide the people of Hong Kong with more fresh, high-quality and safe local agricultural and fisheries products, and to enhance food safety in Hong Kong.
Both sides also exchanged views on leveraging Hong Kong's advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, to develop the potential of an international food hub and expand the access of the Mainland's high-quality agricultural and fisheries products to the global market.
During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in restocking, and the technical and practical experiences of multi-storey livestock farms. Mr Tse pointed out that Hong Kong is a highly developed city with precious land resources, and the development of agriculture and fisheries is facing many challenges. As the country has a strong foundation in the development, research and application of agro-technology, both sides agreed to establish a mechanism to strengthen co-operation, technological exchanges and talent training.
Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong this evening.
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