Officials from Hong Kong and Macao have an negotiation meeting with the Expo 2010 organizers 

Shanghai Vice Mayor Yang Xiong

Wang Jingzhen, member of Shanghai Expo Committee and president of China Council for the promotion of Internatioanl Trade

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee

Luo Zhiguang, official in charge of Hong Kong participation in Expo

Tan Boyuan, chief of Macao's economy department

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

 Zhou Hanmin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

scene of the meeting

Hong Kong and Macau will apply for the participation in the Urban Best Practice Area - one of the two innovations at Expo 2010 Shanghai, the officials of the two special administration regions said at an Expo negotiation meeting yesterday.

The two cities are to showcase their urbanization experiences, especially their development since their return to China.

Hong Kong will showcase the multi-functions of its smart cards and how the cards improve people's lives.

Macau will display the renovation of one of its most important culture relics, the Tak Seng On pawnshop, which was awarded an Honorable Mention among the 2004 Asia Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Preservation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is now injected with modern elements and has become a landmark in the downtown area.

Hong Kong submitted its theme statement to the Shanghai Expo Bureau on January 2, the first Chinese province or city to do so.

The 1,000-square-meter Hong Kong Pavilion will explore the theme "Hong Kong - the Infinite City" to display Hong Kong's achievements as well as the relationship with the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world.

Macau has not submitted its theme statement, but it will showcase its transformation to a global economic and entertainment center.

The two special regions will also participate in Online Expo - the other Expo innovation.