CPPCC HK members urged to offer advice on Bay Area
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Thursday called on Hong Kong members of the country’s top political advisory body to proactively offer advice on the city’s participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This is to help with developing the soon-to-be-announced national development blueprint.
Lam made the call when meeting with more than 80 Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Hong Kong. This is a week before an official conference will be held to publicize the outline development plan for Bay Area. The plan is expected to be announced within days.
She said the special administrative region had made solid progress in participating in the Bay Area development and Belt and Road Initiative. This includes cooperation with the mainland on science and technology and more convenient measures for people from Hong Kong to work and study on the mainland.
Lam said 2019 is a critical year for the national plan. She encouraged Hong Kong CPPCC National Committee members to proactively offer to facilitate Hong Kong’s integration with national development.
On the same day, principal leaders of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the city’s largest union of workers, met with Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, to develop proposals on more convenient measures for Hong Kong people to live in the Bay Area.
The FTU leaders included Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress Stanley Ng Chaupei, and Lam Suk-yee, a member of the Standing Committee of CPPCC National Committee.
They suggested allowing the Health Care Voucher in Hong Kong to be used in Bay Area hospitals. This would make it more convenient for the elderly to enjoy healthcare services.
They also suggested other innovative cross-boundary arrangements across the Bay Area. These included cross-boundary ambulance services, mutual recognition on e-payment and official documents, such as judicial documents and professional certificates.
On Wednesday, CPPCC National Committee members and NPC deputies from the FTU announced six proposals they will raise during the annual NPC and CPPCC meetings in March, to reflect aspiration in local community.
Except for suggestions raised during the meeting with Nip, the FTU’s proposals covered adding the Home Return Permit into mainland’s digital certification system, letting Hong Kong people join the mainland’s social insurance system, and allowing them to renew and replace Home Return Permits on the mainland.
On Tuesday, Lam also met about 30 Hong Kong deputies to the NPC, the country’s top legislature.
Lam said the SAR government attaches great importance to their views; they were the cornerstone of various sectors in the community, with responsibility for participating in national affairs.
She hoped they would continue to support Hong Kong in maximizing its advantages, seizing opportunities from the Bay Area development and the BRI.
The SAR has made solid progress in participating in the Bay Area development and Belt and Road Initiative.” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor