The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced Tuesday the appointments of the chairman and members of the Greater Pearl River Delta Business Council to better promote cooperation with the delta region.

The terms of the appointments will last for two years from March 1, 2006.

HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang has appointed Victor Fung as the chairman of the council for the second term and 31 members, including new appointees Edgar Cheng Wai-kin, Ian Fok Chun-wan, Peter Hung Hak-hip, David Lie-A-Cheong Tai-chong, Tai Tak-fung, Peter Wong Tung-shun and Marjorie Yang Mun-takw.

A government spokesman said that since its inception in March 2004, the council has been helping reflect the views and suggestions of the Hong Kong business sector about ways to promote cooperation between Hong Kong and neighboring Guangdong Province, like measures to further facilitate cross-boundary flow of people and cargo and to step up economic and trade co-operation between the two places.

The council has also launched activities in collaboration with private sector organizations in Guangdong Province for the improvement of air quality in the region.

The council has been set up to provide a forum for constructive exchange of information and ideas between Hong Kong and Guangdong on how to broaden the scope of economic co-operation between the two sides.

Source: Xinhua