The two Special Administrative Regions were in full swing to promote business opportunities based on the concept of "Pearl River Delta triagle", Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah said today.

Mr. Ho who attended the annual plenum of the National People's Congress (NPC) opened earlier March, concluded his trip to Beijing upon his arrival in Macau.

Mr. Ho said that he had met Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and the two sides had agreed with the initiative to jointly boost the two SARs' overall economy.

He added the two CEs also believed that there would be more opportunities for the two SARs to cooperate in tourism and other sectors.

Concerning the relations between Macau and Taiwan, Mr. Ho responded that the sides might develop their relations based on Vice Premier Qian's Seven Point Policies to Taiwan.

He disclosed that Macau SAR government was looking forward to setting up a representative office in Taiwan to manage trade, tourism and cultural affairs "in appropriate time", adding but no "concrete plan yet".

Regarding to the impact brought to Macau by future direct links(direct trade, postal, air and shipping services)between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, Mr. Ho emphasized the Macau SAR Government hoped the establishment of such direct links would be realized soon and would give fully support to it based on the national interests and the peaceful reunification of the country.

However, he admitted that the passenger and cargo transportation might be affected at the initial stage, stressing the SAR government would conduct an overall evaluation in order to minimize the loss.

Mr. Ho also pointed out that the tenth Five-Year-Plan was a crucial one to the development of the country and the comprehensive national power in the new millennium, adding that Macau businessmen should grasp this imminent opportunities and the government would create an environment conducive for investment.