HK seeks to bolster mainland linkages
Delegates to upcoming meetings eye greater SAR role for nation
Hong Kong delegates to the nation’s forthcoming Two Sessions are actively seeking ways to further unleash the city’s potential in national blueprints and enable the city’s younger generation to shine on the broader stage of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing focus on China’s major socioeconomic achievements over the past year and next-stage development blueprints. The 14th CPPCC National Committee session will get underway on March 4 and the 14th NPC session will begin on March 5.
Hong Kong business leader Andrew Yao Cho-fai was re-elected as an NPC deputy this year.
Yao, who used to serve as the chairman of the Hong Kong United Youth Association, said he will bring some concrete motions to Beijing on how to help Hong Kong youngsters utilize opportunities in national development.
With normal cross-border travel fully resumed, Yao said he is restarting his summer exchange program for Hong Kong students to do internships in mainland companies and organizations. The program had been running for 15 years but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his view, the government has already done a lot to help Hong Kong youngsters to integrate into the Greater Bay Area, and many activities launched by the government have become more professional and well-organized. He suggested more Hong Kong organizations engage in the activities, and encouraged young people to embrace the opportunities in the mainland.
CPPCC National Committee member and Hong Kong lawmaker Johnny Ng Kit-chong told a news conference on Feb 14 that he will submit various proposals on livelihood issues, industry development and economic revival, for Hong Kong to further leverage the special administrative region’s unique advantages in national blueprints.
With mature supervision and favorable policies in digital finance, Hong Kong can offer great facilitation to the Greater Bay Area’s development on metaverse and other “Web 3.0” technologies, Ng said.
In the post-pandemic era, he also suggested that Hong Kong brands should attach greater importance to the vast mainland market, which may bring greater rewards and also serve mainland people’s diversified needs.
CPPCC National Committee member So Cheung-wing said his proposal focuses on economic development, adding that Hong Kong should further deepen links with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to accelerate integration.
Lawmaker Peter Koon Ho-ming, who was elected a CPPCC National Committee member for the first time, cares more about social welfare policies.
He believes some policies and conditions on the mainland regarding the elderly are superior to those in Hong Kong, and plans to put forward proposals on encouraging and facilitating more Hong Kong residents to enjoy post-retirement lives in mainland cities.