The government should step up efforts to deepen economic integration between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, according to Orient Overseas (International) chairman and chief executive Tung Chee-chen.
This meant upgrading the physical infrastructure and improving regulatory procedures, said Mr Tung, a member of the Logistics Development Council and the brother of SAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
The administration should intensify co-ordination between Hong Kong and provincial governments in the mainland, Tung Chee-chen told the Pearl River Delta conference jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. 'The Government's measures obviously will help us compete across Asia,' he said.
Traffic congestion at the border and clumsy customs procedures must be resolved, Mr Tung said.
Solutions to these problems included allowing 24-hour border crossings and simplifying customs clearance procedures.
Christine Loh Kung-wai, chief executive of public policy think-tank Civic Exchange, agreed. 'Efficiency is the way forward for Hong Kong. It is stupid that a 24-hour border crossing is still not possible and there are long queues of trucks waiting for customs clearances.'