Lam urges promotion of Bay Area plan
CE says HK contributions to the project to include creativity, global connections
Imminent release of a general plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area project requires governments from the three regions to improve public understanding of the Bay Area, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuetngor said on Monday.
Lam, attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in Hainan province, said governments of the three regions were working on co-organizing Bay Area promotion events at home and abroad.
She said Hong Kong could make important contributions to the Bay Area through its creativity and connections.
“The principle of ‘one country, two systems’ is itself an innovation to become a unique advantage of the Bay Area,” she said.
Hong Kong can introduce international companies into the Bay Area and help Chinese mainland enterprises go overseas.
“We will provide the best conditions to facilitate the flow of people, goods, capital and information and to attract talented professionals,” she added.
Ma Xingrui, governor of Guangdong province who attended the same forum with Lam, said the forthcoming Bay Area plan would accelerate a roll-out of concrete measures to encourage a free flow of talents, goods, capital and information in the region.
The guideline will set goals and create strong impetus for regional development, Ma added.
“With solid basis and huge potential, we are fully confident to build it into a worldclass Bay Area,” he said.
Guangdong will enhance cooperation with Hong Kong, he said. Authorities will focus on removing obstacles to cooperation between the two systems, letting them tap the advantages each gives.
Macao Secretary of Economy and Finance Leong Vai-tac said that in jointly turning the Bay Area into a global tourist destination, the city will use its potential in tourism administration and training and cooperate with other Bay Area cities to upgrade tourism services.
“Macao will also tap its ties with European Union to promote Bay Area cooperation in scientific research, talent cultivation and health services related to traditional Chinese medicine,” he said.
In addition to key government officials within the Bay Area, experts on economic development also presented at the forum sharing their thoughts on pressing ahead Bay Area development.
Antony Leung Kam-chung, chief executive of Nan Fung Group and former financial secretary of Hong Kong, stressed the importance of everyday convenience for professionals.
“Time is what the talented people need most!” he said. “If a certificate is introduced in the Bay Area and the latest technology applied, facial identification can be used for speedy customs clearance and greatly save time.”
Fan Gang, director of the National Economic Research Institute, emphasized the potential of free trade in the area.
“If only the Bay Area can set up a league of free trade zones!” he told the forum. “In that case, the three experimental zones for free trade in Guangdong can be matched with the two free trade regions of Hong Kong and Macao.”