CY Leung leads Hong Kong delegation on Greater Bay Area tour as part of integration drive
City can play a key role as the most international in region, chief executive says
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying led a high-powered delegation to Guangdong on Wednesday with one thing on his mind: fitting Hong Kong into Beijing’s “Greater Bay Area” integration scheme for the Pearl River Delta.
As he began the three-day visit he suggested the city could play a key role as it was “the most internationalised” in the region and could put its prowess in financial and professional services to good use.
“So we should make plans on what industries and corporations should cooperate … and discuss specific policies and projects.”
The chief executive identified maritime services, including insurance and legal expertise, as well as cooperating with Shenzhen on technological innovation as areas to explore.
The integration scheme, first proposed by Guangdong officials several years ago, includes Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong – comprising a total area of 56,000 sq km and a population of more than 66 million.
It was elevated into a national strategic project after Premier Li Keqiang endorsed it in his annual work report last month.
Leung made the remarks at the opening of a two-hour seminar with provincial officials in Guangzhou on Wednesday afternoon.
Referring to the ports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, he said: “We have already formed a world-class bay area, but we need to cooperate … and not to focus on developing the same area.”
Leung also stressed the need to avoid vicious competition.
Earlier in the day he looked relaxed as he arrived at Nansha, southern Guangzhou, without his jacket or tie as the delegation visited an exhibition hall and listened to Nansha chief Zeng Jinze’s presentation on the development of the district’s port and free trade zone.
On Thursday they are scheduled to visit a technology company in Foshan, the Guangzhou South high-speed rail station, and the cities of Zhaoqing and Jiangmen. The group will also visit a construction site of the bridge linking Zhongshan and Shenzhen, and meet Zhuhai officials before returning on Friday night.
The 35-member delegation included 10 top Hong Kong officials, four executive councillors and numerous advisers.
The Hong Kong government will submit by June its proposal to the National Development and Reform Commission, which will complete the blueprint for State Council approval at the end of the year.
