Sichuan project cooperation agreement signed
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government recently signed Project Cooperation Arrangements (PCA) for Provincial Road 303 (Yingxiu-to-Wolong section) and the Master Planning Study of Wolong Nature Reserve projects in Chengdu. The PCAs further underpin the HKSARG’s reconstruction support in the earthquake-stricken areas of Sichuan.
Hong Kong Secretary for Development Carrie Lam signed the PCAs with Vice Director of the Sichuan Provincial Communications Department Xian Xiong and Vice Director of the Sichuan Provincial Forestry Administration Department Li Xiaokang, respectively.
Speaking at the April 8 signing ceremony, Mrs. Lam said the agreements signify a milestone in Hong Kong’s support for reconstruction works in Sichuan.
“The PCAs set out in detail the project scope, estimates, planning and technical standards, program, payment milestones as well as arrangements in respect of project management, disbursement of project funds, procurement and supervision,” Mrs. Lam noted. “The signing of the PCAs will ensure efficient and effective use of the project funds.”
The Hong Kong and Sichuan governments signed the “Cooperation Arrangement on HKSAR’s Support for Restoration and Reconstruction in the Sichuan Earthquake Stricken Areas” on October 11, 2008. It provided the framework for cooperation on matters such as 20 first-stage reconstruction projects, project- and fund-management arrangements, as well as the liaison and coordination mechanism. The HKSARG also previously signed Letters of Intent for Provincial Road 303 (Yingxiu-to-Wolong section) and the Master Planning Study of Wolong Nature Reserve projects with the Sichuan Provincial Communications Department and the Sichuan Provincial Forestry Administration Department, respectively.
Mrs. Lam met with Sichuan Vice Gov. Huang Yanrong to get an update on the progress of reconstruction work in the earthquake-stricken areas. She also was briefed by officials from six Mainland cities where comparatively more reconstruction projects supported by Hong Kong are being implemented.
Hong Kong is a leading wireless city
The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) recently published for the first time local mobile data usage, which saw a surge to 147 terabytes in January, or an average of 44 megabytes per 2.5G/3G mobile user. This represents four times and 14 times the mobile data usage over the same period in 2008 and 2007, respectively.
An OFTA spokesman said the remarkable growth of mobile data usage indicates the public is growing accustomed to the transmission and reception of mobile data. This is consistent with the trend observed in other advanced economies and demonstrates that Hong Kong has matured as a leading wireless city in the region.
Aside from infrastructure investment by mobile network operators, the strong growth of mobile data usage is also attributable to the competitive service packages offered by mobile network operators and the increasing popularity of smart phones.
According to the OFTA, the number of 2.5G/3G mobile phone users in Hong Kong has increased 15% on a year-on-year basis, reaching 3.35 million in January. The total number of mobile phone users is 11.43 million, representing a penetration rate of more than 163%.
Monthly wireless service statistics, including mobile data usage, the number of short messages sent and received and the number of mobile phone users, can be found on the OFTA Web site, [www.ofta.gov.hk/en/datastat/eng_wireless.pdf].
Entry eased for Taiwan visitors to Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced April 15 that a new arrangement for the entry of Taiwan residents visiting Hong Kong would be implemented beginning April 27.
Under the new arrangement, Taiwan residents holding a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, commonly known as Tai Bao Zheng, can enter Hong Kong on visitor status and stay for up to seven days if normal immigration requirements are met, without the need to also possess a valid entry/exit endorsement for the Mainland as currently required. It will provide visitors from Taiwan with greater convenience and flexibility in planning their journeys.
The arrangement follows on the heels of two facilitation measures for Taiwan visitors that began January 1: the restriction that only two iPermits could be applied for within 30 days was lifted; and the period of stay in Hong Kong for holders of iPermits and Multiple-Entry Permits was extended from 14 days to 30 days.
|
