As neighbouring cities grow in power and influence, Hong Kong is being asked to play a bigger role in Pearl River Delta integration.
The city ought to be more aggressive when negotiating co-operation with Guangdong, a Hong Kong-based academic says.
The comments came as the Guangdong People's Congress ended its annual meeting yesterday after discussing a draft of the province's next five-year plan, the guide to the province's development until 2015. The parliamentary body vowed to fully implement a framework agreement with Hong Kong and Macau meant to foster common economic and cultural goals.
Professor of Chinese law Ong Yew Kim, also a visiting professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, said: 'In terms of cross-border co-operation, Hong Kong has traditionally been playing a passive role.
'It would very much like to take a stronger initiative but the response from the Guangdong side has remained lukewarm.'
Guangdong authorities say plans to work closely with Hong Kong in the service sector, especially in financial services, will remain a focal point in the next five years. Vice-governor Liu Kun said Guangdong would rely on Hong Kong to carry out a range of financial business, while the city's financial sector would in return receive robust support to develop business in the province.