Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam joins Beijing group making ‘final decisions’ for Bay Area project aimed at rivalling Silicon Valley
Lam joins high-level body mapping out strategies for greater economic integration to drive national development
Hong Kong’s leader will for the first time on Wednesday have a seat at the table with top Beijing leaders as they strategise the next steps for creating a regional financial and innovation powerhouse to rival Silicon Valley.
Vice-Premier Han Zheng, who has been Beijing’s point person on the ambitious bay area project, is likely to lead the group, which will report directly to China’s cabinet, the State Council.
Lam is expected to be joined by her Macau counterpart Fernando Chui Sai-on, Guangdong governor Ma Xingrui and head of China’s National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng.
Government sources said the group would act as a coordinating body for the 11 cities and make top-level decisions for subordinates to follow.
Members will meet on Wednesday afternoon and an announcement on policy measures is likely to be made afterwards, though details of the entire plan, and how the work will be split among the cities will probably not be available just yet.