The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, today (November 1) continued his visit to Xiamen. He called on the Deputy Director-General of the Xiamen Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Mr Zheng Chunchun, and exchanged views with him on the latest developments and urban planning of the two places. He also visited the Xiamen Planning Exhibition Hall.
During his stay in Xiamen, Mr Chan attended the World Cities Day Forum 2016 and delivered a keynote speech. The forum mainly discussed how to plan and build a liveable, inclusive and sharing city with the community.
Mr Chan said in his speech that Hong Kong, as a global city, is facing significant challenges both externally and internally amid the process of economic globalisation. Hong Kong should make comprehensive and quick responses to meet the challenges and grasp new opportunities, he added. He also raised several points, taking examples from the public engagement on "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" launched last week.
Mr Chan said that "Hong Kong 2030+" is a people-oriented and low-carbon smart strategic long-term spatial plan that respects nature, encouraging harmony with diversity and adopting a public participatory approach as well as sharing the fruits of development.
"Our planning vision set out in 'Hong Kong 2030+' is for Hong Kong to continue to be a liveable, competitive and sustainable Asia's world city. This development strategy includes three building blocks: enhancing liveability in our already high-density and compactly developed city, embracing economic challenges and opportunities, and creating capacity for sustainable growth. It will guide planning, land and infrastructure development, and shape the built as well as natural environment of Hong Kong beyond 2030," he said.
The forum was organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China, and the Fujian Provincial People's Government. This year's theme was "Inclusive Cities, Shared Development".
Accompanying Mr Chan to the forum was the Deputy Director of Planning (Territorial), Ms Phyllis Li.
Mr Chan departed for Ningbo this afternoon to attend the 2016 Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Forum organised by the Ningbo Municipal People's Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. He will speak at the opening ceremony.
Ends/Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:45
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