GUANGDONG Province and Macao will combine to develop Hengqin Island, but some technical problems will have to be sorted out before work begins.

　Lu Ruihua, the governor of Guangdong, had discussions Wednesday with visiting Macao SAR Chief Executive, Edmund Ho Hau-wah.

　“It’s not whether we’ll do it. The question is how we’ll do it in a better way,” the governor said.

　Edmund Ho Hau-wah said that as the island covered an area of 90 square kilometers, its development would affect a few generations of people from Guangdong and Macao. Therefore, it must have a good beginning, Ho said.

　Lu and Ho also talked about setting up a joint border industrial zone. Lu said the province would further study the project and prepare a detailed plan for the Central Government.

　Ho Hau-wah echoed Lu adding that the enclosed industrial zone was about linking Macao’s manufacturing industry with the Pearl River Delta Area.

　“Macao is a small area with a small population. The cooperation and support from Guangdong Province would be very important for its development in the long term,” Ho said. The island is situated between Macao and Zhuhai.(John Woo)