China’s State Council reveals details of Greater Bay Area plan to turn Hong Kong and 10 neighbouring cities into economic hub
- Years in the making, scheme embodies President Xi Jinping’s ambition to build innovation and finance powerhouse to rival Silicon Valley and Tokyo Bay Area
- Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou named as four key cities of the bay area and core engines for regional development
A cluster of world-class cities for work, life and leisure forms the central vision of China’s “Greater Bay Area” finally unveiled by Beijing late on Monday, laying out a road map to what it hailed as the new era of opening up.
Forty years after the 1978 opening up of China, the central government published its long-anticipated document setting out its ambitious plan to transform Hong Kong and 10 cities around the Pearl River Delta into a thriving global centre of technology, innovation and economic vibrancy.
The blueprint identified five “strategic orientations”, including closer integration between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, while upholding the governing principle of “one country, two systems” for the two special administrative regions.
It confirmed that Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou would be the four key cities of the bay area and the core engines for regional development.
Hong Kong was mentioned 102 times in the blueprint, while Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen were named 90, 41 and 39 times respectively.
She thanked the central government “for placing importance on the views of Hong Kong”, and noted that more details would be discussed at a symposium in the city on Thursday. The event will be attended by officials from China’s National Development and Reform Commission as well as the leaders of Guangdong and Macau.