Official blueprint for China’s ‘Greater Bay Area’ to be unveiled in early 2019, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam reveals
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The long-awaited official blueprint for a southern Chinese innovation and technology powerhouse to rival Silicon Valley is expected to be unveiled early next year, Hong Kong’s leader revealed on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said: “It will be the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China next year. We believe the development of the Greater Bay Area will also advance to the next stage. We believe the development plan will be officially released early next year.”
Lam’s remarks came hours before she was set to make a four-day duty visit to Beijing.
She was scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, when she planned to report what her administration has achieved in the past year in areas including politics, economy and welfare.
It has been more than three years since the “Greater Bay Area”, which comprises Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in the neighbouring Guangdong province, was first mentioned in a development action plan, jointly outlined by China’s top authorities of economic planning, commerce and foreign affairs.
It has been uncertain when the blueprint would be announced. The authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have repeatedly said it would be made public soon.