Symposium on Outline Development Plan for Greater Bay Area Held in Hong Kong

Governments of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao co-organise Symposium on Outline Development Plan for Greater Bay Area

The People’s Government of Guangdong Province, together with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government held the Symposium on the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on 21 February. Representatives of the governments of the three places, officials of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and of the National Development and Reform Commission respectively interpreted the Outline Development Plan.

In her speech, the Chief Executive of HKSAR Carrie Lam elaborated on why and how Hong Kong takes part in the development of the Greater Bay Area, and the city’s major tasks in the future. She said that under the “One Country, Two Systems”, Hong Kong enjoys unique dual advantages. Hong Kong is a highly open and international city, with a business environment that is open and facilitating, and professional services that are of excellent quality. Hong Kong’s strengths can complement the advantages of the nine Mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area such as the size of their market, an all-rounded industry system and their relative strength in technology.

Mrs Lam also outlined the future work focuses of the HKSAR Government, namely: consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as international financial, transportation and trade centres as well as an international aviation hub; developing an international innovation and technology hub; expanding the scope of development for sectors in which Hong Kong’s strengths lie; strengthening infrastructural connectivity; fostering youth innovation and entrepreneurship; and fully utilising Hong Kong’s international connections and networks to promote the Greater Bay Area overseas and attract capital and talents to the Greater Bay Area.

In his speech, the Deputy Chairman of the Office of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lin Nianxiu said that development of the Greater Bay Area will enrich the practice of “One country, Two systems” and is conducive to a higher level of the country’s opening up, the qualitative development of the country and to breaking the developmental bottlenecks of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

According to Mr Lin, the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area involves “One Country, Two System, Three Customs Territories and Three Currencies”, which can be found nowhere else in the entire world. Constructing the GBA is a pioneer task that involves careful selection of development direction, heavy responsibilities and solutions to huge difficulties. To achieve this goal, he added, the three regions need to define the source of problem and uphold the following principles: 1) “One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong People administrating Hong Kong, Macao People administrating Macao, a high degree of autonomy”; 2) strict compliance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law; 3) free market economy supported by government; 4) people-oriented development.

The Governor of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province Ma Xingrui, said that the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay area is a major opportunity for the three places. He continued, Guangdong will seize this golden opportunity and pro-actively work with Hong Kong and Macao to plan and implement the building of the GBA, with the development of the GBA as a motivating engine for the opening-up and reform in the new era. According to him, Guangdong will put in greater endeavour to meet the requirements of the Central Government, the needs of Hong Kong and Macao and to work line the development direction of the Greater Bay Area with Guangdong’s strengths.

As pointed out by Mr Ma, the next steps of Guangdong will be its strategic positioning according to the Outline Development Plan, conducting study on the construction of world-class bay area, and pushing forward the growth of the Greater Bay Area at high standard and with high quality. Meanwhile, the development of Guangdong will also focus on the policy alignment, innovation-driven growth, interconnection with the GBA cities, industrial development, openness to the international world and people’s living standard.

In his speech, the Chief Executive of Macao SAR Chui Sai On said that Macao is pro-actively joining the planning of the GBA development by accelerating the city’s alignment with the adjoining regions, giving full play to the institutional advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” and the patriotism of Macao’s people, as well as sparing no effort in partaking in the GBA construction.

Mr Chui Sai On pointed out that the Macao SAR will continue to enhance its own strengths while consolidating the regional co-operation at the same time during the city’s participation in the GBA construction, which are also some of the important means to achieve sustainable development. He added that the city will maintain a pragmatic approach to be a pioneer in jointly motivating the growth of the Greater Bay Area. At the same time, he continued, the city will align its development with the country’s strategy, leverage on the city’s international advantages and serve as an important platform to enhance its global presence and competitiveness; intensify the support for technology and innovation, actively participate in the construction of international centre of science, technology and innovation; placing importance to the development of youth, publicise the Outline Development Plan and motivate broad participation in the GBA growth.

The Symposium was joined by nearly 800 guests, representing relevant departments from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.