Speed up Loop project with HK, urges mayor

Shenzhen Mayor Chen Rugui has urged Futian to speed up the development of the Lok Ma Chau Loop project with Hong Kong.

During a Futian delegation panel discussion at the annual session of the city’s legislature on Jan 19 and after hearing suggestions from deputies to the Sixth Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress, Chen said he hoped Futian would seize the opportunity to take the lead in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

This would give the district a “first mover” advantage in the growth of high-end service industries, such as finance, promoting innovative development, industry upgrading and the optimization of resource allocation for the whole area.

On one hand, Futian should make use of its geographical advantages — being close to Hong Kong and as the district with the closest contacts with Hong Kong — to strengthen its cooperation with the SAR by further integrating and optimizing checkpoint services, and strengthening the interconnectivity of infrastructure such as rail traffic.

On the other hand, collaboration with Hong Kong should be established to develop the Lok Ma Chau Loop area and introduce Hong Kong’s finance, technology, healthcare and education practices, which could breathe new life into Futian’s industries and economy, Chen said.

During a panel discussion at the fourth meeting of the Sixth Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which began Jan 15, future development of the Lok Ma Chau Loop area was also a key topic raised.

Political advisers, including dozens of political advisers from Hong Kong, put forward various proposals to enhance the development of the area located between Hong Kong and Futian.

The Lok Ma Chau Loop area, managed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is believed to be one of the major sites for potential joint development in the Greater Bay Area between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The proposals raised by the political advisers covered various aspects regarding the area’s development. Some suggested that the loop area incorporate special administrative rules to facilitate more effective cooperation between the two cities, while others came up with more specific plans, such as bringing in more projects from the medicine or technology sectors.

Luo Xiaoyin, a Shenzhen CPPCC member, suggested that the Futian district government, Shenzhen’s foreign affairs office and other related departments set up an innovative management system that only applies to enterprises and personnel who have settled in the loop area.

According to Luo, the system could align with favorable policies to help create more jobs and business opportunities for youths from both Shenzhen and Hong Kong.