Boost Greater Bay Area integration with more sporting and cultural events for our youth

Ken Chu says with infrastructure projects connecting cities in the Greater Bay Area in place, the focus should shift to fostering human ties, and youth activities are a good place to begin

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A Shenzhen University student carries the torch of the 26th Summer Universiade, held in Shenzhen in 2011. Sporting events in the Greater Bay Area could help build camaraderie among youth. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:38am, 14 Mar 2018Updated: 6:26pm, 14 Mar 2018

At China’s parliamentary meeting this year, Premier Li Keqiang said that Beijing would implement a development plan for the Greater Bay Area to foster even closer ties between Hong Kong, Macau and the other nine cities near the Pearl River estuary. A significant milestone will be reached with the opening of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong express rail link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge this year.

These two infrastructure projects will improve the physical connection between cities, but only when an intimate human connection among residents is achieved can the potential be fully realised. Therefore, we must seek different ways to create greater interaction and understanding among those living in the region, starting with our youth.

Young people across the Pearl River Delta are brought up under very different systems. To bridge the inherent differences, we might try to foster academic, sports and cultural exchange among youth.

In this year’s annual work report, Li referred to the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge. The timing couldn’t be better for the respective governments to organise a tri-city marathon or cycling event to mark the opening of the bridge, enabling Greater Bay Area residents to mingle through a friendly sporting activity. Sports and social activities have long been a unifying tool; they are a universal language easily understood by young people. There should be greater cooperation between the relevant bureaus in Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong in organising youth games in popular sports such as soccer, basketball and table tennis.

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We can also focus on activities that integrate cultural elements such as Lingnan wushu, dragon and lion dancing, dragon boat racing, and so on. Giving sports a cultural spin would not only encourage participation, it would also lay the groundwork for youth to build camaraderie.