Shenzhen Communist Party chief bangs the drum for Hong Kong cooperation
- Zheng Ke urges youngsters from south of the border to seek out work and business opportunities in his city
- But he adds they must oppose anti-government protests which have rocked Hong Kong for months
Shenzhen is still keen to serve and cooperate with Hong Kong, whose young people should seize opportunities to invest in the development of the neighbouring city, a top official there said on Friday.
Zheng Ke, deputy chief of the Communist Party’s Shenzhen branch, was speaking at a high-powered seminar in the city on Hong Kong youngsters studying or working there.
The forum, attended by businesspeople and officials from both southern cities plus Beijing, came less than two weeks after the central government trumpeted plans to turn Shenzhen into a model city by 2035, as anti-government protests have roiled Hong Kong since June. The announcement sparked speculation from commentators and business leaders in Hong Kong that the former British colony could soon be replaced by its mainland neighbour.
Zheng told the seminar Shenzhen was “a city of miracles” and its development could not be separated from the contribution of Hong Kong.
“The history of Shenzhen is a history of cooperation between the city and Hong Kong. We have always, with the greatest sincerity, promoted cooperation between [the two cities],” he said.
“Shenzhen will do what is conducive to both the prosperity and development of Hong Kong and the integration of Hong Kong into the great national development.”
