Ways to make cross-boundary cooperation work
Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, told a recent seminar that Hong Kong had enjoyed great prosperity along with the mainland by proactively participating in national development over the past four decades. He also said that the reform and opening-up process and “one country, two systems” framework have been working well together and been a driving force for shared prosperity.
That Hong Kong has greatly contributed to and benefited from participating in national development has been evident in the city’s economic and social development over the past few decades. The question now is what Hong Kong should do as part of the nation’s future reform and openingup. Mainstream opinion suggests the SAR should seize new opportunities arising from the process of further reform and openingup and better integrate itself into the nation’s development. However, the reality is more complicated than mere words. “Two systems” embedded in “one country” can be an advantage or an obstacle depending on the way it is implemented in Hong Kong.
We need more experience in handling “one country, two systems” — especially when it comes to coordinating the two systems. Fortunately, the mainland’s further reform and opening-up process will provide greater room for Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantages. Hong Kong should proactively explore and tap into every opportunity to cooperate with the mainland. It should promote national development under the strategic framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. Two joint projects between Hong Kong and Shenzhen could be models for future cross-boundary cooperation when they are successfully implemented.
The first one is the Lok Ma Chau Loop. Thanks to an agreement made in 2017 between the SAR and Shenzhen governments, the controversy surrounding land ownership of the area has been settled with a win-win solution. The Lok Ma Chau Loop project is an example for future crossboundary cooperation with Hong Kong and Shenzhen jointly developing an innovation and technology park. The 87-hectare Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park — with a site area four times that of the existing Hong Kong Science Park — is expected to be the most significant innovation and technology platform ever established in Hong Kong.
Furthermore, the project will be a platform to test how the SAR’s talent-friendly environment can contribute to the innovative and technology development in the Bay Area. Special arrangements for those high-tech talents are necessary to attract skilled workers from different regions. For instance, the SAR government can set up a convenient entry and exit system for mainland employees working in the park. This may be similar to the APEC Business Travel Card scheme, which allows cardholders to use a particular immigration lane and enjoy streamlined clearance. If the system is set up successfully, it will be a model for enhancing cooperation and interaction of talents between two sides in the future.
The second one is development of Chung Ying Street into a Bay Area Quality Shopping, Tourism and Culture Area. For decades, Chung Ying Street has not been able to realize its potential commercial value due to its small economic scale, lack of attractiveness of its products and outdated facilities. We must make full use of the business advantages of cross-boundary trade between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We can do this by establishing a highquality shopping, tourism and culture area which is in line with the long-term development objectives and the heritage conservation goals of Chung Ying Street — for the benefit of its residents. The plan can also divert the flow of tourists from densely populated urban areas to the boundary area and minimize the negative impact of an influx of visitors on downtown residents.
The project is significant in exploring cross-boundary spatial cooperation — especially in terms of a development model. Chung Ying Street Quality Shopping, Tourism and Culture Area not only benefits the economy and the local community but also provides a development model for similar areas in the Bay Area in future. This will encourage more frequent cross-boundary interactions between residents from the two sides.
People’s confidence in the success of “one country, two systems” ultimately lies in the success of joint economic development and also in mutual prosperity. There is a well-known saying in China:“Practice is the sole criterion for testing the truth”. We need to take practical moves to explore how the advantages of “one country” can help facilitate the development of “the Hong Kong system” and how the advantages of “Hong Kong system” can best serve the national interests.
We need to take practical moves to explore how the advantages of “one country” can help facilitate the development of “the Hong Kong system” and how the advantages of “Hong Kong system” can best serve the national interests.