Hong Kong needs to do more to explore mainland Chinese opportunities and stop being ‘more talk than action’, legislator says

Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen tells Legco panel city’s ‘superconnector’ and ‘super-value adder’ boasts have become ‘a vague slogan with no substance’

Legislator Tang Fei adds city’s mainland trade offices had been lax in their approach to linking up with Hongkongers living or working across the border

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Hong Kong needs to forge closer links with mainland China to take advantage of opportunities, lawmakers say. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:25pm, 20 May 2024Updated: 9:36pm, 20 May 2024

Hong Kong legislators have appealed to the government to do more to explore opportunities offered by mainland China’s development and some criticised the promotion of the city’s “superconnector” role as a tired cliché.

Lawmakers said officials should open a government trade office in the northwestern region of the mainland as closer ties would be expected after central authorities relaxed its rules to allow people from more cities to visit Hong Kong.

Most lawmakers at a meeting of the Legislative Council panel on constitutional affairs on Monday said they were concerned by the passive approach of the government to its work to strengthen regional cooperation on the mainland.

Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, the only non-establishment member of the legislature, added the government was “more talk than action”.

The Lok Ma Chau border bridge at Shenzhen’s Futian district. Lawmakers have said Hong Kong needs to more active in promoting links with mainland China to exploit opportunities. Photo: Roy Issa

“We have repeatedly been told about Hong Kong’s roles as a superconnector and super-value adder,” he said. “But what do they mean? They seem to have become a vague slogan with no substance.