THE Government is about to tell China it agrees in principle to set up a co-ordinating body on cross-border infrastructure projects, according to sources.
Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands Tony Eason, now in Beijing, will give a formal reply this week or early next week.
The Executive Council was briefed yesterday on Mr Eason's trip, during which he discussed the body with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
An official source said: 'The next step is to give a formal reply to the Chinese.' There were some facets that needed further discussion, such as the name of the body, a suitable venue and the frequency of meetings.
'We hope it will start working as soon as possible,' the source said.
Some Exco members have privately voiced concern that the autonomy of the administration in deciding infrastructure plans might be damaged by the establishment of a cross-border body.
But a source close to Exco said government officials had been assured the Government could go ahead with plans that did not impinge on mainland projects.
