Hong Kong, Macao, Guangdong Sign Agreement to Strengthen Sports Cooperation and Development in Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong SAR Government, General Administration of Sport of China, People's Government of Guangdong Province and Macao SAR Government sign agreement on strengthening of sports co-operation and promotion of integrated development

Photo source: reference image

​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, signed the agreement on strengthening of sports co-operation and promotion of integrated development (the Four-Party Agreement) with the Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr Gao Zhidan, the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Meng Fanli, and the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Sam Hou-fai, in Shenzhen during the 15th National Games (November 21).

Mr Lee said, "The Four-Party Agreement inherits and carries forward the spirit of unity fostered through our co-hosting of the 15th National Games, and signifies a new stage of co-operation among the three places. Under the strategic framework of the Four-Party Agreement, the HKSAR Government will capitalise on the distinctive advantages of 'one country, two systems' to promote the integrated development of sports in the Greater Bay Area. We will deepen the co-operation in areas such as consolidation of sports resources, joint hosting of sports events, integration of sports industries and nurturing of talents, thereby contributing to the building of China as a leading sporting nation."

The Four-Party Agreement aims to consolidate and deepen the achievements of the co-hosting of the 15th National Games, as well as to strengthen sports exchanges and integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, so as to leverage the unique role of sports and the distinctive advantages of "one country, two systems". The key provisions of the agreement include:

(1) Further strengthening sports exchanges and co-operation between the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao;

(2) Supporting the integrated development of sports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to achieve the synergised uses of resources; establishing platforms for sports exchanges, improving co-operation mechanism and creating branded sports events;

(3) Enhancing exchanges on sport for all and strengthening communication and co-ordination within international organisations, such as the Association For International Sport for All and the Asian Sport for All Association;

(4) Strengthening co-operation on elite sports;

(5) Enhancing youth sports exchanges;

(6) Promoting exchanges and co-operation in sports industries;

(7) Jointly promoting Chinese sports spirit and cultivating the Chinese sports culture;

(8) Enhancing exchanges and co-operation in sports science and research;

(9) Strengthening sports governance and promoting co-operation between the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in the areas such as development of the sports system, sports dispute resolution and non-domestic legal affairs on sports; and

(10) Safeguarding the overall interest of the Chinese nation and strengthening communication on issues of mutual concern in international sports affairs.

Photo source: Xinhua News Agency

CS concludes visit to Beijing

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (April 2) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG) under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to continue their visit to Beijing.

The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with Mr Chan and other members of the delegation in the morning. Mr Chan thanked Mr Xia for his care and guidance for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's work on planning and constructing the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). He also reported that, in the past three days, the delegation of the WG had visited several places, including the Ningbo Higher Education Park, the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou, the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining), the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, and Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. Through on-site visits to higher education developments in different places, and exchanges with experts and scholars on their successful experiences and development strategies, the delegation gained practical inspiration for the top-level design of the NMUT. This will help advance the deep integration of Hong Kong's academic excellence with industry, promoting industrial development through education. Mr Chan said that the WG will continue to push forward the development of the NMUT with enhanced quality, speed, and efficiency, in proactive alignment with the outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, as well as contribute Hong Kong's strengths to the national goal of building China into a leading country in education, and helping Hong Kong better integrate into and serve the overall national development.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang. The Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, also reported on her work. The Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, Miss Linda So, and representatives from the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities attended the meeting together.

Mr Chan and other members of the delegation concluded their visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon. Dr Choi continued her visit to Beijing this afternoon, and will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (April 3).

CS concludes visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases