MACAO - Riding high on its efforts to achieve the goals and undertakings of the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative, Macao is looking to reinforce regional collaboration in its quest for a leading role as a recreation and entertainment center in the Pearl River Delta region and along the Belt and Road routes. The city underscored this vision when the sixth session of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) kicked off in Macao on Monday. Hosted by Macao’s Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, the two-day event is set to promote international dialogue on the theme “Regional Collaboration Toward a Better Future”, while intensifying links with Central and Eastern European countries. In his opening address, former Macao chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, who is now vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said in a world reshaped by cutting-edge technology and diverse cultures, economies have become inextricably interwoven. This calls for trans-regional and transnational cooperation across a wider range of areas. Collaboration drives the vision of the world’s second-largest economy to revive its ancient trade route, said Alexis Tam Chon-weng, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. “The forum echoes Macao’s determination to play a bigger role as the country’s connector with the rest of the world and make a bigger difference in the regional collaboration landscape,” said Tam, who is also the executive chairman for GTEF. “Macao is betting big on sharpening its edge as the world-renowned recreation and entertainment center, as well as the trade and economic cooperation platform between the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries,” he noted. Taleb Rifai, who is in the final year of a second four-year term as the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, says Macao has what it takes to be a major driving force for a higher level of regional cooperation under the Belt and Road push. The forum is billed as one of the leading annual events in the global tourism calendar and the single most representative non-governmental tourism platform in China. It has attracted more than 7,000 participants from 63 countries and regions, welcomed 54 provincial and municipal delegations from the Chinese mainland, and invited 300 of the world’s most influential business leaders, decision-makers and academics to share their insights since its inception in 2012. In conjunction with this year’s GTEF, China Daily will host a panel discussion for the sixth year running. It will bring together distinguished academics, policy makers and industry heavyweights to share their insights on how the grand plan of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area could benefit from a higher level of regional cooperation. The dialogue, entitled “The Greater Bay Area - Visionary Collaboration in the Making”, will be held today (Tuesday) at Macau Tower. sophia@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-172017年10月17日, 澳門——中國日報今天在澳門舉行題為「從中國角度看區域合作:前瞻世界偉大工程——粵港澳大灣區」的亞洲領袖論壇專題討論,吸引逾300名政商學界人士參加。 是次討論會是中國日報第六次與世界旅遊經濟論壇合作,邀請到聯合國世界旅遊組織旅遊可持續發展觀測點管理與檢測中心主任保繼剛,中華人民共和國國家旅遊局規劃財務司副司長賈玉成,澳門特別行政區政府旅遊局局長文綺華,香港旅遊事務署旅遊事務專員朱曼鈴,廣東省旅遊局局長曾穎如,澳門發展策略研究中心會長蕭志偉,香港理工大學酒店及旅遊業管理學院副院長及客座教授宋海岩與參會嘉賓分享對大灣區旅遊業的見解。 保繼剛在主題演講中表示,近年来大灣區硬件設施有改善,但軟件方面有待進一步提升。因此,軟連接必須落實到政府間政策的執行,比如:「一地兩檢」、進一步提高簽證辦理速度、提高區域航空的準點率、進一步放寬港澳及廣東居民跨境自駕的限制,等等。 賈玉成表示,中央政府將致力於把大灣區打造成為「海上絲綢之路」上的重要旅遊目的地。他提出以下建議:一是貫徹「一帶一路」戰略,支持大灣區旅遊業發展;二是依托地區合作機制,加快地區全城旅遊建設;三是開發地區優勢資源,推動旅遊產業提檔升級;四是強化部門協調協同,優化旅遊產業內涵外延;五是維護旅遊市場秩序,建立健全制度保障機制。 文綺華提到,在2015年之前,澳門沒有水域的管理權,中央政府在2015年底給澳門以新的發展機遇,做「濱海旅遊」是澳門未來旅遊發展的亮點。 朱曼鈴表示,作為「粵港澳大灣區」戰略中的重要一員,香港對該戰略懷抱熱情,寄予厚望。受惠於包括港珠澳大橋在內的珠江三角洲發達的基建網絡,從香港出發,「一程多站」路線可覆蓋大灣區的其他城市,讓大灣區豐富的旅遊資源得以充分發揮其價值與潛力。 曾穎如指出,應把「粵港澳大灣區」建成國際級的休閒旅遊目的地,無障礙旅遊區和品質旅遊合作區。 蕭志偉表示,未來發展「粵港澳大灣區」,首先要先用好「一國兩制」這個制度的優勢,這是我們區別於其它灣區經濟的特色之處。 宋海岩說,改革開放三十年來,珠江三角洲在產業集聚方面取得了重大進展。「粵港澳大灣區」戰略的提出是區域經濟一體化的必然產物。 「粵港澳大灣區」城市群地處中國南大門,擁有豐富的旅遊資源,具有得天獨厚的條件,可發展成為世界級旅遊區。建立旅遊大品牌及大項目,有助於城市群升級巨變,也將推動大灣區城市形象升級與發展。數據顯示,2016年,「粵港澳大灣區」(包括廣東省九市、香港和澳門)接待了總量超過四億的遊客,旅遊收入超過一萬億人民幣(約1530億美元)。2016年廣東省旅遊各項指標繼續保持中國內地第一,在1.22億內地出境遊客中,多達58%選擇了香港和澳門為目的地。大灣區旅遊業發展勢頭日益強勁,中國日報正是藉此契機邀請各界領袖共商議題。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平臺,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500余萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。(完) 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求 小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-17Hong Kong is ideally positioned to benefit from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative but, to derive the most benefits, it will have to work hand-in-hand with both regional partners and the central government, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday. “In two days’ time, I shall deliver my maiden Policy Address which, I hope, will contain not only initiatives for the coming year but also my vision for the future of Hong Kong,” Lam said in a keynote speech at a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon. “You can be sure that opportunities for Hong Kong under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative will feature quite prominently.” Hong Kong is in an ideal position to build on its key roles within the Greater Bay Area and as an important link for the Belt and Road Initiative, Lam told the luncheon held in conjunction with the roundtable forum themed “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges”. But to obtain the most benefits from the growth and development of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong will have to work together with other cities in the region to avoid duplication in the use of resources and minimize barriers for the movement of people, goods and services. Going forward, Hong Kong will have to proactively seek opportunities. “In my view, the Greater Bay Area will serve as the gateway between the Chinese mainland and the countries along the Belt and Road,” Lam stressed. And Hong Kong, as the most international city in the bay area project, should prove itself to be a key gateway for multinational companies looking toward the Chinese mainland and mainland companies looking to tap markets overseas. Potential significance She said it’s difficult to overestimate the potential significance of the Greater Bay Area, which encompasses 11 cities and a population of 66 million, which is greater than the United Kingdom, and a GDP of US$1.36 trillion, equivalent to that of Australia. From the first day of her administration earlier this year, the chief executive has been pushing to strengthen the SAR’s position in the region and is working with the central government to enter into a comprehensive agreement on Hong Kong’s role in the Greater Bay Area. “All cities in the Greater Bay Area are excited about the future prospects and are pressing full steam ahead,” Lam said. “Hong Kong, the most international of the bay area cities, already serves as a multilateral bridge between the mainland and the rest of the world.” With extensive professional services and a dynamic innovation environment, Hong Kong is ideally positioned to both benefit from and power the development of the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road project. Conversely, the SAR’s role within the Greater Bay Area should help the city overcome two key challenges, said Lam. The first is a shortage of land that limits the development of many industries. The second is a relatively small market. Another key role for Hong Kong will be in innovation to help power the Pearl River Delta region. “If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it’s important for us to join hands in the development of an innovation center,” she said. “We are regarded as one of the fastest growing technology startup ecosystems in the world.” Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, said the growth of both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative present opportunities for the region in general and Hong Kong specifically. “Hong Kong, because of its strategic position, has a significant role in those projects,” said Zhou. He referred to comments President Xi Jinping made in Xiamen during the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in September. The president said that “while the Belt and Road Initiative is about promoting the spirit of international cooperation, it is also about fostering a sustainable development”. And promoting development will require looking at the long-term prospects of both the Greater Bay Area and its role within the Belt and Road Initiative. While the ongoing discussions about the importance of this key region are not new, the understanding of its significance has grown. National level “It is not a new concept. It has been developed for some years at certain levels in the context of Pearl River Delta cooperation,” said Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education, who moderated at the panel discussion. “What is new is that the concept has been brought to a central national level as a central national strategy. The bay area is being talked about in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. So, in two ways, it gives us some new ideas.” Legislator and Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who also chairs the Maritime Silk Road Society, said: “In the long term, we should explore whether we could build this tremendous area into something like a single market.” “There should be reciprocal agreements for the free movement of people,” she said, adding that the easier flows of goods and people within the Greater Bay Area could help the region evolve into a more cohesive whole. Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said: “There’s a way we can build this 9+2 cities (nine cities in Guangdong province, plus Hong Kong and Macao) into an entity that will add up to more than the sum of its parts.” “Hong Kong’s advantages in innovation and technology are well known. One of the most prominent advantages is our internationalization advantage,” he said. A highlight of a new strategy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is the development of an international innovation and technology hub, Yang said. A working model “Hong Kong will play a pretty important role in this part and the hub will probably be a model of Hong Kong working with Shenzhen and Guangzhou, the leading cities in the Greater Bay Area in innovation,” said Yang. Ultimately, the division of labor for the 11 cities within the Greater Bay Area is likely to focus on the strengths of each other. For Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area provides both challenges and opportunities. This particular region is important to the development of China, said Li Xiaopeng, group president and vice-chairman of China Merchants Group. He said China Merchants Group is committed to contributing its expertise in the development of the Greater Bay Area. “Through the bay area, lots of companies can do business very easily,” said Li. “In the near future, we will continue to make a new and greater contribution to the (Greater) Bay Area.” Companies would also benefit from a stronger ecosystem for business and “there is obvious room for improvement”, such as through a better transport infrastructure and financial system. At the same time, consolidating resources could help strengthen the area. A case in point is the visible overcapacity in port resources that is visible throughout the Greater Bay Area, Li added. Pansy Ho Chiu-king, executive chairman and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings, noted that both Hong Kong and Macao have already benefitted from their roles within the Greater Bay Area and from the “one country, two systems” principle that has been successfully implemented for two decades. Going forward, the area as a whole could further benefit from regional links by not only driving the growth of industry, but also powering services industries like tourism, she said. “We can grow the Pearl River Delta to become a bigger destination for tourism.” A way to do this might be to find ways to develop more multi-destination tourism, which the Greater Bay Area could develop. The authorities should work together to build on the trendy push to encourage travelers to visit multiple destinations in a single trip. Ultimately, developing greater integration throughout the Greater Bay Area could prove to be a powerful driver of economic growth and a driver of a better quality of life for both the Hong Kong and the region as a whole. “We should set our sights high,” said Ip. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of Hong Kong SAR “We aim to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area which will no doubt also contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative. If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it is important for us to join hands with these cities in the area.” Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Executive Council member and co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society “The Greater Bay Area will provide invaluable opportunities for Hong Kong to expand outward, to use the area as our market to export our services, not just financial professional and business services but also personal services, which Hong Kong excels in, and also for our people to live a better life by living in the Greater Bay Area.” Li Xiaopeng, vice-chairman and group president of China Merchants Group “The governments need to encourage the consolidation of resources in the region. I still see overcapacity, how to improve the synergy to realize regional development as being among the questions that the governments need to consider.” Pansy Ho Chiu-king, group executive chairman and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings “The governments need to work together, and try to assimilate the efforts so there could be pooled resources to create what we call ‘one-journey-multi-destination travel’. In the global tourism context, this is a very trendy development.” Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the School of Professional and Continuing Education, University of Hong Kong “Talking about this Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area ... the concept has grown into a central, national strategy and, placed in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, it brings plenty of new aspects for discussion.” Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, secretary for innovation and technology “Not long ago, if you look at the Fortune 500 companies, the top 10 companies are usually banks, oil companies, etc. Today that has changed. Today’s top 10 companies are dominated by innovation and technology companies.”
2017-10-10China Daily Hong Kong Edition, which was launched on Oct 6, 1997, observed its 20th anniversary at a star-studded yet somber celebration held at Grand Hyatt on Monday. Attended by over 340 high-profile guests drawn from the government, industries and the academia — including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor — the event was shaped around a Belt-and-Road-themed forum. The presence of Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group headquartered in Beijing, was particularly encouraging to staff members in Hong Kong who work under his leadership. In his welcome address, Zhou succinctly delineated the story of China Daily HK’s 20-year journey in a nutshell. “China Daily Hong Kong Edition was founded to cater to the city’s huge community of English-speaking readers — to bring them news, views and in-depth research-based features from across China, and beyond. Founded immediately after the Hong Kong SAR came into being, China Daily Hong Kong Edition was also tasked with upholding the values of ‘one country, two systems’ principle, outlining its scope and clarifying the nuances according to the Basic Law for its Anglophone readers,” he said. Referring to President Xi Jinping’s inspection visit to the city in July on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, and his remarks about how “one country, two systems” gives expression to the vision of peace and harmony in the Chinese culture, Zhou said: “I am happy to note that the Hong Kong Edition of China Daily, through its reports and opinion pieces, has been promoting a similar value system, founded on the principles of harmony and greater common good. Today it’s a well-respected and influential paper, having acquired a substantial local and international following across its different platforms accessible in print and online.” Zhou congratulated the China Daily HK team for “putting in the hard work and dedication that has turned the paper into a credible source of news and opinion pieces”. He said this had been reflected in the awards China Daily staffers brought home every year from Hong Kong, national and international competitions, often competing with the finest in the media industry. Zhou offered a brief introduction to the theme of the panel discussion — Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges. Zhou then recalled a recent comment made by Xi, when he said the Belt and Road Initiative was both about promoting the spirit of international cooperation as well as fostering sustainable development. Zhou said he was confident that the panelists would share insights into the response to his queries about how Xi’s vision for achieving commercial prosperity and eco-friendly development could become a reality.
2017-10-10HONG KONG - The 20th anniversary celebrations for China Daily Hong Kong Edition on Monday assumed more meaning and significance than a regular birthday bash. In the lead-up to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s maiden Policy Address on Wednesday, the 340-plus gathering of distinguished guests featuring high-profile diplomats, public servants, captains of industry, academics and media and communication leaders were treated to a speech by the Chief Executive herself. Lam said she was unable to divulge the contents of her Wednesday presentation. But her keynote speech delivered at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Luncheon, held to mark China Daily HK’s 20th year, provided glimpses into her vision for Hong Kong’s future and how this ties up with the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by President Xi Jinping. Referring to the theme of the roundtable — Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges — Lam said it was “a most timely and relevant one” as it was “inspiring”, bringing together “two critically important national development strategies”. “Much synergy could be derived from interactions of both, particularly in shaping the future of Hong Kong,” she noted. “Indeed, I view the bay area development as a key pillar for the Belt and Road Initiative,” said Lam. She noted the increasing importance being placed on the special administrative region to work together with the cities in the Pearl River Delta to achieve prosperity for the region as well as serve as a strategically positioned conduit between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world. “In my view, the bay area will serve as the gateway between the Chinese mainland and the countries along the Belt and Road.” Referring to her first official trip after assuming office to Beijing in August, Lam said she had “secured the Central People’s Government's blessing for Hong Kong to enter into a comprehensive agreement with the mainland on the SAR’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative”. The CE added that she hoped to see the agreement drawn up before the year was out. As part of her government’s focus on innovation and technology and creating opportunities for the city’s young professionals and entrepreneurs, Lam mentioned a plan “to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the bay area”. Lam noted the way cities in the southern coast of China were already taking advantage of the nation’s innovation-driven development strategy. “If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it is important for us to join hands with these cities in the bay area in the development of the innovation center”.
2017-10-10Hong Kong can play a critical role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by transforming internationalized standards of institutions, according to Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Hong Kong. But, more interactive activities across the border and their implementation are the key to realizing such involvement, he told the China Daily Leadership Roundtable luncheon on Monday. Chen explained that Hong Kong is certainly one of the important hubs in the Greater Bay Area and, besides talents, what the SAR can contribute to the Greater Bay Area are its institutions with their international, professional and standardized legal system, regulatory framework, financial prudence and experience in conducting financial services. “People can be trained, but institutions cannot be established in a short period of time, and Hong Kong has the best international standards being practiced,” he said. “The key issue is how to realize it,” Chen stressed, adding that to achieve such transformation, three areas need improvement — interactive activities in business, culture and education; inter-connectivity; and interflow of resources — not only in capital but also the assets of institutions. He cited the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland as one way to enhance such transformation. Other innovative ways could be the setting up of a high-level governmental committee with budgets and positive power, and a strong Greater Bay Area council by the private sector based on the leadership of some leading companies, as in the case of San Francisco. Besides institutions, Chen said, Hong Kong really has its advantages as a center for higher education and a potential research and development (R&D) hub among the “nine plus two” cities within the Greater Bay Area, as Hong Kong has very good research-intensive education institutions. But, he stressed that Hong Kong’s R&D ecosystem still needs to be improved upon to support innovation, which could be achieved by collaborating with other “nine plus two”cities such as Shenzhen and Dongguan. Chen described the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area concept as “not brand new” as the idea had been brought up years ago. However, it’s refreshing that the concept has grown into a central, national strategy and, placed in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, it brings plenty of new aspects for discussion, Chen said during the panel discussion on the perspectives for opportunities and challenges from the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. He said the Greater Bay Area is the strategic doorway to Southeast Asian countries and other regions, connecting the Belt and Road with the world, and it needs international standards, with Hong Kong as the best place to offer them. tingduan@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-10Experts on Monday offered a host of suggestions for both the central and local governments to overcome the hurdles in achieving greater and more effective integration to facilitate greater growth among cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which aims to build a world-class city cluster by leveraging the strengths of the 11 cities within the area. They said that as the cities are located in three different jurisdictions with separate customs regulations, the restrictions of each jurisdiction on the circulation of economic elements may hinder the region’s integration. “We want to achieve a free flow of talents, goods, services and capital within the region, so there should be reciprocal arrangements to achieve freer flow of talents. Local governments within the region also need to explore ways of facilitating the free flow of renminbi and use technology to allow ‘one-stop’ clearance of goods in Hong Kong,” said Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Executive Council member and co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society. She suggested that Hong Kong people living and working in the Greater Bay Area should get national treatment, enjoying the same rights as local citizens, such as being able to send their children to local schools. And, to encourage mainland companies to set up global or regional headquarters in Hong Kong, the SAR government should allocate quotas for tech companies to import talents. “To achieve all these, there should be a high-level coordinating committee involving central government officials, say at vice-premier level, because if we want to have greater freedom in capital flow, we need special monetary policies from the central authorities, and it’s for the chief executive to demand that,” she told China Daily after a panel discussion on “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges”. As the area develops, its influence is likely to extend beyond the geographical boundaries of its city cluster to play a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a key link with countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, she said. Competition within the cities of the Greater Bay Area is inevitable, but Ip emphasized that cooperation is more important than competition. “There’s bound to be competition, but that’s good for us. Competition ensures that we improve our performance. But other than competition, we can also cooperate. As Hong Kong is short of land, we could collaborate with cities in the Greater Bay Area, leveraging on their land resources to build more innovative industries,” said Ip. Ip urged the Hong Kong government to work with the cities in Guangdong province to set up a Greater Bay Area development fund to invest in new industries in the region. “As Hong Kong has lots of reserves, we could set aside some of our reserves to invest in the region — that will bring Hong Kong much higher returns in the long term,” she said. Last year, the combined gross domestic product of the 11 cities in the Greater Bay area reached US$1.36 trillion, or 12 percent of the national economy. cherrylin@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-10Oct 9, 2017 HONG KONG: China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable held a luncheon panel discussion themed “Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges” on October 9, at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of China Daily Hong Kong Edition, The Honorable Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. YANG Jian, Deputy Director Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Mr. XIE Feng, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the SAR; The Hon. Mr. Andrew Leung, President of Legislative, HKSAR; Mr. Pana Janviroj, Executive Director of Asia News Network; Mr. ZHOU Shuchun, Editor-in-Chief Of China Daily Group; Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific ; and more than 300 government officials, consul generals, and industry elite from Hong Kong and abroad toasted for China Daily Hong Kong Edition. The Honorable Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivered the keynote address and said the topic was “a most timely and relevant one” that is “inspiring”, bringing together “two critically important national development strategies”. Also, she pointed out the innovation and technology, and expressed that HK government aims to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the Bay Area that will no doubt also contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative. If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it is important for us to join hands with these (Greater Bay) cities in the Bay Area in the development of the innovation center. Mr. ZHOU Shuchun mentioned that China Daily Hong Kong Edition was founded to cater to the city’s huge community of English-speaking readers — to bring them news, views and in-depth research-based features from across China and beyond. The distinguished board of panelists, chaired by Prof. Edward CHEN Kwan-yiu, Chairman of the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education, comprised Ms. Pansy HO, Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd; Mrs. Regina IP LAU Suk-yee, Co-Chair of Maritime Silk Road Society; Mr. LI Xiaopeng, Vice-Chairman and Group President of China Merchants Group Ltd; and Mr. Nicholas W. YANG, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government. They discussed ways through which Hong Kong can contribute to and benefit from the Greater Bay Area development, as well as the opportunities and challenges for key industry players in the area. Ms. Pansy HO said the governments need to work together, and try to assimilate the efforts so that there could be pooled resources to create what we called one journey multi-destination travel; this is a very trendy development in global tourism context. Mrs. Regina IP LAU Suk-yee advocated relaxing regulations on the movement of people and resources between Hong Kong and the mainland. She said the Greater Bay will provide invaluable opportunity for Hong Kong to expand outwards, to use the area as our market to export our services, not just financial professional and business services but also personal services, which Hong Kong does so well, and also for our people to live a better life by living in the Greater Bay area. Mr. LI Xiaopeng said the governments need to build a more business friendly environment, such as to enhance the connectivity of transportation and logistics infrastructures. What’s more, governments need to encourage the consolidation of the resources in the region, he still see overcapacity, how to improve the synergy to realize the regional development, are among the questions the government need to consider. Mr. Nicholas W. YANG said not long ago, if you look at the Fortune 500 companies, the top 10 companies are usually banks, oil companies, etc. Today that changed. Today innovation and technology companies dominate top ten companies. Prof. Edward CHEN Kwan-yiu said as about this Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area, the concept is not new, the idea has been brought up years ago, what new is that the concept has been grew into a central, national strategy and been placed in the context of Belt and Road Initiative, bringing us plenty of new aspects for discussion. The massive project is set to enhance the competitiveness of the Pearl River Delta region on the world stage and support the Belt and Road Initiative. The Greater Bay Area plan will invigorate regional growth and bring tremendous business opportunities. China Daily hopes the panel discussion will further highlight the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. (The End) Media Contact: Ms. Melody Hong Tel: (852) 3465 5427 Email: melody@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09HONG KONG – Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday innovation and technology will be her administration’s “priority area” as the sector will drive Hong Kong’s economic growth and improve the public's well-being. Speaking at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon, she highlighted the importance of collaborating with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the development of an international innovation and technology center. “I’m convinced that innovation and technology will help power Hong Kong’s future economy, improve people’s livelihood and create quality jobs for young people, as well as opportunities for young entrepreneurs,” Lam said. “It will, therefore, be a priority area for my government.” Hong Kong has a lot of potential to contribute to that goal with strong research and development capabilities, a highly valued and well-protected intellectual property rights system and a vibrant entrepreneurial environment, she told the luncheon held in conjunction with the roundtable forum themed “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges”. Currently, Hong Kong hosts some 2,000 innovation and technology startups and about 50 incubators, representing a 24-precent growth over the same period last year. “Hong Kong can contribute to the development, as our international networks can connect the bay area with international markets. And we are well versed in global technology trends and technical standards, thanks to a base of highly skilled workers supported by well-respected tertiary institutions,” said Lam. “At the same time, Hong Kong is set to benefit from the collaboration with other cities in the bay area as it would provide our businesses with better access to the manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta and ample opportunities in the huge mainland and Belt and Road markets.” Lam revealed that Hong Kong’s opportunities under the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative will “feature quite prominently” in her maiden Policy Address to be delivered on Wednesday. Pointing out that development of the innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area would contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, she said interactions of the two national grand plans will create a synergy effect, bringing greater benefits to Hong Kong. The chief executive also congratulated China Daily Hong Kong Edition on its 20th anniversary. Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, said the newspaper’s Hong Kong edition, founded shortly after the city returned to the motherland, was tasked with upholding the values of the “one country, two systems” principle, outlining its scope and clarifying the nuances according to the Basic Law of the special administrative region for its Anglophone readers.’’’ “‘One country, two systems’ gives expression to the vision of peace and harmony in Chinese culture. It embodies a very important tenet, namely, seeking broad common ground while setting aside major differences,” Zhou said, citing President Xi Jinping’s remarks during his inspection trip to Hong Kong in July. “I am happy to note that the Hong Kong Edition of China Daily, through its reports and opinion pieces, has been promoting a similar value system, founded on the principles of harmony and greater common good.” Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, said: “Our big ambition from the beginning was to establish China Daily Hong Kong as a solid part of the community – a dedicated, contributing player.” “We are proud of the achievements of ‘one country, two systems’, and of the active role we have played in fostering the spirit of cooperation.” sally@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09中國日報攜手政商學界獻策粵港澳大灣區之發展 2017年10月9日 香港 — 中國日報今日於香港君悅酒店舉辦題為「打造粵港澳大灣區:響應『一帶一路』倡議:機遇與挑戰」的亞洲領袖圓桌論壇,慶祝香港版創刊二十周年。香港特別行政區行政長官林鄭月娥女士、中央人民政府駐香港特別行政區聯絡辦公室副主任楊健先生、中華人民共和國外交部駐香港特別行政區特派員公署特派員謝鋒先生、香港特別行政區立法會主席梁君彥先生、亞洲新聞聯盟執行董事兼泰國《民族報》總裁Pana Janviroj先生,各國駐港領事,香港政府官員,立法會議員,傳媒高層,商會代表等350余名嘉賓出席了論壇,幷參加了慶祝儀式。 中國日報社總編輯周樹春先生在致辭中說,20年來,中國日報香港版一直踐行著自己「服務香港市民」的承諾,爲本地的英文讀者提供橫跨香港、內地與世界的新聞、評論及深度報道。「如今,它已經發展成爲一家具有良好聲譽和廣泛影響力的媒體,通過平面及綫上媒體等多種傳播渠道,獲得了衆多本地與國際讀者的青睞。」 香港特別行政區行政長官林鄭月娥女士做了主題演講,她特別強調科技創新,指出香港政府計劃在大灣區建立一個國際化的創新科技樞紐,這也無疑將對「一帶一路」倡議的發展做出貢獻。如果香港不甘落後,聯手與該區域城市群建立這樣一個中心對香港來說顯得尤為重要。 隨後,信德集團有限公司集團行政主席及董事總經理何超瓊女士;海上絲綢之路協會聯席主席葉劉淑儀女士;招商局集團有限公司副董事長兼總經理李曉鵬先生;香港特別行政區政府創新及科技局局長楊偉雄先生;以及嘉賓主持香港大學專業進修學院董事局主席陳坤耀教授在專題研討會上各抒己見,立足「一帶一路」倡議,聚焦粵港澳大灣區發展帶來的啟示。 何超瓊表示大灣區各地政府應該合力打造「一程多站」的旅遊生態圈,這在全球旅遊業也是新趨勢。 葉劉淑儀表示大灣區將為香港向外發展提供寶貴機會,該區域可成為輸出專業金融和經濟服務的市場,還有香港擅長的個人服務,大灣區廣闊的居住空間也將改變大眾生活。 李曉鵬表示大灣區各地政府需要通過加強物流、運輸等基建來打造一個更好的營商環境。同時,該地區還存在產能過剩問題,各地政府應該進一步進行資源的整合,提高協同效應來促進地區發展。 楊偉雄表示在不久前,財富500強的公司裡,前十名通常是銀行、石油等公司。現在情況已經改變,如今創新和科技公司主導了前十名。 陳坤耀表示大灣區的概念其實並不是第一次提出,但是今日的粵港澳大灣區規劃上升為國家戰略,而這個規劃與「一帶一路」的契合,也賦予了大灣區新的意義和討論空間。 「一帶一路」倡議自提出以來,受到香港社會各界的廣泛關注和積極響應,并落實為有效的實際行動,作為「一帶一路」倡議中的關鍵節點,粵港澳大灣區的發展優勢不言而喻。中國日報借此契機,主辦是次論壇,邀請各界共議粵港澳大灣區帶來的歷史新機遇,期以化願景為行動,共同推動大灣區建設。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平臺,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500余萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。(完) 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求 小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09HONG KONG – A grand plan to create a globally competitive cluster of metropolises in the Pearl River Delta calls for higher-level inter-governmental collaboration and coordination, a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum heard on Monday in Hong Kong. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area plan, an initiative testing the region’s potentials to be the country’s next growth engine, is looking to ride high on the undertakings and goals of the nation-led Belt and Road Initiative. “While the Greater Bay Area plan remains in the planning stage, the Belt and Road Initiative, which has developed into an all-out national strategy of the world’s second-largest economy, has gotten on the fast track of execution and seen resources starting to flow into different areas,” Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, secretary for innovation and technology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, told the roundtable. With the 11 cities across the region, including Hong Kong, Macao and Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong province, betting big on gaining momentum from the proposed Greater Bay Area, the roundtable panelists called for high-level closer cooperation to achieve a win-win situation for all. “Instead of just either being competitive or collaborative, we have to work toward a competitive advantage, an advantage that would ensure collaboration,” said Pansy Ho Chiu-king, group executive chairperson and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings. “In future, we need to see governments working together, and trying to assimilate efforts so that there could be pooled resources to create what we call ‘one journey multiple destinations travel’,” she said. “In the global context, this is a very pretty trendy development.” Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society, agreed. “With an ultimate objective of making the Greater Bay Area more open, more innovative and more integrative, we need a high-level coordinative mechanism,” she said. Ip believed that the grand plan cannot go without engaging “somebody very senior at the central government level”. “It has been suggested that it should be not be lower than the vice-premier level,” she added. To illustrate how the grand plan could put the region on course to benefit from synergies, whereby cities would give full play to their competitive edges and strategically focus on industries in which they have comparative advantages, Yang pointed out that Hong Kong’s efforts fit in with the Greater Bay Area’s quest to become an international innovation and technology hub. Although the SAR city stands as a pretty much important participant, it shares the common goal with Shenzhen and Guangzhou to develop the area into an innovation and technology center. This is where the cities can reinforce the theme of regional collaboration, he said. Backed by higher-level regional cooperation and integration, Hong Kong, equipped with better access to the manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta and massive markets on the Chinese mainland and along the Belt and Road routes, is set to reap the fruits by joining hands with other cities in the Greater Bay Area, Yang added. Billed as one of key events to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to its motherland, as well as the 20th year of publication of China Daily Hong Kong Edition, the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum has drawn together heavyweight policymakers, business leaders and academics from around the world to share their insights into ways of building a world-class bay area for the world’s second-largest economy under the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. sophia@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09Hong Kong is preparing the final touches to its long-anticipated free trade deal with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in its quest for a catalyst to boost regional trade and investment flows. “Hong Kong has been working intensively with ASEAN partners on the Hong Kong ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a view to complete it very soon,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuetngor said at the Hong Kong Summit on Tuesday. The much awaited FTA, on which negotiations once came to a deadlock and missed deadlines after rounds of talks since 2014, will “strengthen economic ties between ASEAN and Hong Kong by facilitating the flow of goods, services and investments”, Lam said. “When completed, the China ASEAN Free Trade Area and the FTA, coupled with CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement), would provide a solid platform to facilitate trade and investment among Hong Kong and ASEAN countries. It will also help unleash Hong Kong’s full potential as a hub for international trade and investment,” she reckoned. In a sign of the “importance that Hong Kong attaches to ASEAN region and the bilateral collaboration”, Lam told the summit she would make the ASEAN region the destination of her very first official overseas visit in her capacity as Hong Kong’s leader. “While the FTA negotiation is entering its final stage, I believe that, by the time it comes into effect, it will help Hong Kong uphold its unique role even more effectively and expand the scope of economic and trade cooperation within the region in a way that will benefit all of us,” Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Jonathan Choi Koonshum said at the summit. The ASEAN bloc now stands as Hong Kong’s second largest trading partner, next only to the Chinese mainland, and the fourth largest export market of Hong Kong behind the mainland, European Union and United States, as data from the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council showed. Over the first nine months of last year, the total trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN exceeded US$77 billion. Some five ASEAN economies are now among top 20 trading partners of Hong Kong. By the first half of last year, about 547 ASEAN companies had a presence in Hong Kong, accounting for roughly 6.8 percent of the foreign companies in the territory. Among them, 54 companies have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong, 136 set up regional offices and 357 opened their local offices in the city. Last year, 12 percent of trade between ASEAN and the mainland, with a value of more than US$54 billion, was routed through Hong Kong, underscoring the city’s unparalleled position as a hub of logistics, commerce, trade and finance in the region. Billed as one of the major events commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the Hong Kong Summit this year - its third session - has drawn heavyweight regulators, policymakers and market players from the mainland, Hong Kong and ASEAN countries to offer their insights on regional sustainable development. The oneday event opened on Tuesday with the theme of “Regional Cooperation between Hong Kong and East Asia: Innovating new ideas and embracing new opportunities”.
2017-07-12MACAO - Riding high on its efforts to achieve the goals and undertakings of the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative, Macao is looking to reinforce regional collaboration in its quest for a leading role as a recreation and entertainment center in the Pearl River Delta region and along the Belt and Road routes. The city underscored this vision when the sixth session of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) kicked off in Macao on Monday. Hosted by Macao’s Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, the two-day event is set to promote international dialogue on the theme “Regional Collaboration Toward a Better Future”, while intensifying links with Central and Eastern European countries. In his opening address, former Macao chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, who is now vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said in a world reshaped by cutting-edge technology and diverse cultures, economies have become inextricably interwoven. This calls for trans-regional and transnational cooperation across a wider range of areas. Collaboration drives the vision of the world’s second-largest economy to revive its ancient trade route, said Alexis Tam Chon-weng, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. “The forum echoes Macao’s determination to play a bigger role as the country’s connector with the rest of the world and make a bigger difference in the regional collaboration landscape,” said Tam, who is also the executive chairman for GTEF. “Macao is betting big on sharpening its edge as the world-renowned recreation and entertainment center, as well as the trade and economic cooperation platform between the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries,” he noted. Taleb Rifai, who is in the final year of a second four-year term as the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, says Macao has what it takes to be a major driving force for a higher level of regional cooperation under the Belt and Road push. The forum is billed as one of the leading annual events in the global tourism calendar and the single most representative non-governmental tourism platform in China. It has attracted more than 7,000 participants from 63 countries and regions, welcomed 54 provincial and municipal delegations from the Chinese mainland, and invited 300 of the world’s most influential business leaders, decision-makers and academics to share their insights since its inception in 2012. In conjunction with this year’s GTEF, China Daily will host a panel discussion for the sixth year running. It will bring together distinguished academics, policy makers and industry heavyweights to share their insights on how the grand plan of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area could benefit from a higher level of regional cooperation. The dialogue, entitled “The Greater Bay Area - Visionary Collaboration in the Making”, will be held today (Tuesday) at Macau Tower. sophia@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-172017年10月17日, 澳門——中國日報今天在澳門舉行題為「從中國角度看區域合作:前瞻世界偉大工程——粵港澳大灣區」的亞洲領袖論壇專題討論,吸引逾300名政商學界人士參加。 是次討論會是中國日報第六次與世界旅遊經濟論壇合作,邀請到聯合國世界旅遊組織旅遊可持續發展觀測點管理與檢測中心主任保繼剛,中華人民共和國國家旅遊局規劃財務司副司長賈玉成,澳門特別行政區政府旅遊局局長文綺華,香港旅遊事務署旅遊事務專員朱曼鈴,廣東省旅遊局局長曾穎如,澳門發展策略研究中心會長蕭志偉,香港理工大學酒店及旅遊業管理學院副院長及客座教授宋海岩與參會嘉賓分享對大灣區旅遊業的見解。 保繼剛在主題演講中表示,近年来大灣區硬件設施有改善,但軟件方面有待進一步提升。因此,軟連接必須落實到政府間政策的執行,比如:「一地兩檢」、進一步提高簽證辦理速度、提高區域航空的準點率、進一步放寬港澳及廣東居民跨境自駕的限制,等等。 賈玉成表示,中央政府將致力於把大灣區打造成為「海上絲綢之路」上的重要旅遊目的地。他提出以下建議:一是貫徹「一帶一路」戰略,支持大灣區旅遊業發展;二是依托地區合作機制,加快地區全城旅遊建設;三是開發地區優勢資源,推動旅遊產業提檔升級;四是強化部門協調協同,優化旅遊產業內涵外延;五是維護旅遊市場秩序,建立健全制度保障機制。 文綺華提到,在2015年之前,澳門沒有水域的管理權,中央政府在2015年底給澳門以新的發展機遇,做「濱海旅遊」是澳門未來旅遊發展的亮點。 朱曼鈴表示,作為「粵港澳大灣區」戰略中的重要一員,香港對該戰略懷抱熱情,寄予厚望。受惠於包括港珠澳大橋在內的珠江三角洲發達的基建網絡,從香港出發,「一程多站」路線可覆蓋大灣區的其他城市,讓大灣區豐富的旅遊資源得以充分發揮其價值與潛力。 曾穎如指出,應把「粵港澳大灣區」建成國際級的休閒旅遊目的地,無障礙旅遊區和品質旅遊合作區。 蕭志偉表示,未來發展「粵港澳大灣區」,首先要先用好「一國兩制」這個制度的優勢,這是我們區別於其它灣區經濟的特色之處。 宋海岩說,改革開放三十年來,珠江三角洲在產業集聚方面取得了重大進展。「粵港澳大灣區」戰略的提出是區域經濟一體化的必然產物。 「粵港澳大灣區」城市群地處中國南大門,擁有豐富的旅遊資源,具有得天獨厚的條件,可發展成為世界級旅遊區。建立旅遊大品牌及大項目,有助於城市群升級巨變,也將推動大灣區城市形象升級與發展。數據顯示,2016年,「粵港澳大灣區」(包括廣東省九市、香港和澳門)接待了總量超過四億的遊客,旅遊收入超過一萬億人民幣(約1530億美元)。2016年廣東省旅遊各項指標繼續保持中國內地第一,在1.22億內地出境遊客中,多達58%選擇了香港和澳門為目的地。大灣區旅遊業發展勢頭日益強勁,中國日報正是藉此契機邀請各界領袖共商議題。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平臺,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500余萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。(完) 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求 小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-17Hong Kong is ideally positioned to benefit from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative but, to derive the most benefits, it will have to work hand-in-hand with both regional partners and the central government, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday. “In two days’ time, I shall deliver my maiden Policy Address which, I hope, will contain not only initiatives for the coming year but also my vision for the future of Hong Kong,” Lam said in a keynote speech at a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon. “You can be sure that opportunities for Hong Kong under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative will feature quite prominently.” Hong Kong is in an ideal position to build on its key roles within the Greater Bay Area and as an important link for the Belt and Road Initiative, Lam told the luncheon held in conjunction with the roundtable forum themed “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges”. But to obtain the most benefits from the growth and development of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong will have to work together with other cities in the region to avoid duplication in the use of resources and minimize barriers for the movement of people, goods and services. Going forward, Hong Kong will have to proactively seek opportunities. “In my view, the Greater Bay Area will serve as the gateway between the Chinese mainland and the countries along the Belt and Road,” Lam stressed. And Hong Kong, as the most international city in the bay area project, should prove itself to be a key gateway for multinational companies looking toward the Chinese mainland and mainland companies looking to tap markets overseas. Potential significance She said it’s difficult to overestimate the potential significance of the Greater Bay Area, which encompasses 11 cities and a population of 66 million, which is greater than the United Kingdom, and a GDP of US$1.36 trillion, equivalent to that of Australia. From the first day of her administration earlier this year, the chief executive has been pushing to strengthen the SAR’s position in the region and is working with the central government to enter into a comprehensive agreement on Hong Kong’s role in the Greater Bay Area. “All cities in the Greater Bay Area are excited about the future prospects and are pressing full steam ahead,” Lam said. “Hong Kong, the most international of the bay area cities, already serves as a multilateral bridge between the mainland and the rest of the world.” With extensive professional services and a dynamic innovation environment, Hong Kong is ideally positioned to both benefit from and power the development of the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road project. Conversely, the SAR’s role within the Greater Bay Area should help the city overcome two key challenges, said Lam. The first is a shortage of land that limits the development of many industries. The second is a relatively small market. Another key role for Hong Kong will be in innovation to help power the Pearl River Delta region. “If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it’s important for us to join hands in the development of an innovation center,” she said. “We are regarded as one of the fastest growing technology startup ecosystems in the world.” Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, said the growth of both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative present opportunities for the region in general and Hong Kong specifically. “Hong Kong, because of its strategic position, has a significant role in those projects,” said Zhou. He referred to comments President Xi Jinping made in Xiamen during the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in September. The president said that “while the Belt and Road Initiative is about promoting the spirit of international cooperation, it is also about fostering a sustainable development”. And promoting development will require looking at the long-term prospects of both the Greater Bay Area and its role within the Belt and Road Initiative. While the ongoing discussions about the importance of this key region are not new, the understanding of its significance has grown. National level “It is not a new concept. It has been developed for some years at certain levels in the context of Pearl River Delta cooperation,” said Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education, who moderated at the panel discussion. “What is new is that the concept has been brought to a central national level as a central national strategy. The bay area is being talked about in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. So, in two ways, it gives us some new ideas.” Legislator and Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who also chairs the Maritime Silk Road Society, said: “In the long term, we should explore whether we could build this tremendous area into something like a single market.” “There should be reciprocal agreements for the free movement of people,” she said, adding that the easier flows of goods and people within the Greater Bay Area could help the region evolve into a more cohesive whole. Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said: “There’s a way we can build this 9+2 cities (nine cities in Guangdong province, plus Hong Kong and Macao) into an entity that will add up to more than the sum of its parts.” “Hong Kong’s advantages in innovation and technology are well known. One of the most prominent advantages is our internationalization advantage,” he said. A highlight of a new strategy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is the development of an international innovation and technology hub, Yang said. A working model “Hong Kong will play a pretty important role in this part and the hub will probably be a model of Hong Kong working with Shenzhen and Guangzhou, the leading cities in the Greater Bay Area in innovation,” said Yang. Ultimately, the division of labor for the 11 cities within the Greater Bay Area is likely to focus on the strengths of each other. For Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area provides both challenges and opportunities. This particular region is important to the development of China, said Li Xiaopeng, group president and vice-chairman of China Merchants Group. He said China Merchants Group is committed to contributing its expertise in the development of the Greater Bay Area. “Through the bay area, lots of companies can do business very easily,” said Li. “In the near future, we will continue to make a new and greater contribution to the (Greater) Bay Area.” Companies would also benefit from a stronger ecosystem for business and “there is obvious room for improvement”, such as through a better transport infrastructure and financial system. At the same time, consolidating resources could help strengthen the area. A case in point is the visible overcapacity in port resources that is visible throughout the Greater Bay Area, Li added. Pansy Ho Chiu-king, executive chairman and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings, noted that both Hong Kong and Macao have already benefitted from their roles within the Greater Bay Area and from the “one country, two systems” principle that has been successfully implemented for two decades. Going forward, the area as a whole could further benefit from regional links by not only driving the growth of industry, but also powering services industries like tourism, she said. “We can grow the Pearl River Delta to become a bigger destination for tourism.” A way to do this might be to find ways to develop more multi-destination tourism, which the Greater Bay Area could develop. The authorities should work together to build on the trendy push to encourage travelers to visit multiple destinations in a single trip. Ultimately, developing greater integration throughout the Greater Bay Area could prove to be a powerful driver of economic growth and a driver of a better quality of life for both the Hong Kong and the region as a whole. “We should set our sights high,” said Ip. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of Hong Kong SAR “We aim to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area which will no doubt also contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative. If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it is important for us to join hands with these cities in the area.” Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Executive Council member and co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society “The Greater Bay Area will provide invaluable opportunities for Hong Kong to expand outward, to use the area as our market to export our services, not just financial professional and business services but also personal services, which Hong Kong excels in, and also for our people to live a better life by living in the Greater Bay Area.” Li Xiaopeng, vice-chairman and group president of China Merchants Group “The governments need to encourage the consolidation of resources in the region. I still see overcapacity, how to improve the synergy to realize regional development as being among the questions that the governments need to consider.” Pansy Ho Chiu-king, group executive chairman and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings “The governments need to work together, and try to assimilate the efforts so there could be pooled resources to create what we call ‘one-journey-multi-destination travel’. In the global tourism context, this is a very trendy development.” Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the School of Professional and Continuing Education, University of Hong Kong “Talking about this Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area ... the concept has grown into a central, national strategy and, placed in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, it brings plenty of new aspects for discussion.” Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, secretary for innovation and technology “Not long ago, if you look at the Fortune 500 companies, the top 10 companies are usually banks, oil companies, etc. Today that has changed. Today’s top 10 companies are dominated by innovation and technology companies.”
2017-10-10China Daily Hong Kong Edition, which was launched on Oct 6, 1997, observed its 20th anniversary at a star-studded yet somber celebration held at Grand Hyatt on Monday. Attended by over 340 high-profile guests drawn from the government, industries and the academia — including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor — the event was shaped around a Belt-and-Road-themed forum. The presence of Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group headquartered in Beijing, was particularly encouraging to staff members in Hong Kong who work under his leadership. In his welcome address, Zhou succinctly delineated the story of China Daily HK’s 20-year journey in a nutshell. “China Daily Hong Kong Edition was founded to cater to the city’s huge community of English-speaking readers — to bring them news, views and in-depth research-based features from across China, and beyond. Founded immediately after the Hong Kong SAR came into being, China Daily Hong Kong Edition was also tasked with upholding the values of ‘one country, two systems’ principle, outlining its scope and clarifying the nuances according to the Basic Law for its Anglophone readers,” he said. Referring to President Xi Jinping’s inspection visit to the city in July on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, and his remarks about how “one country, two systems” gives expression to the vision of peace and harmony in the Chinese culture, Zhou said: “I am happy to note that the Hong Kong Edition of China Daily, through its reports and opinion pieces, has been promoting a similar value system, founded on the principles of harmony and greater common good. Today it’s a well-respected and influential paper, having acquired a substantial local and international following across its different platforms accessible in print and online.” Zhou congratulated the China Daily HK team for “putting in the hard work and dedication that has turned the paper into a credible source of news and opinion pieces”. He said this had been reflected in the awards China Daily staffers brought home every year from Hong Kong, national and international competitions, often competing with the finest in the media industry. Zhou offered a brief introduction to the theme of the panel discussion — Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges. Zhou then recalled a recent comment made by Xi, when he said the Belt and Road Initiative was both about promoting the spirit of international cooperation as well as fostering sustainable development. Zhou said he was confident that the panelists would share insights into the response to his queries about how Xi’s vision for achieving commercial prosperity and eco-friendly development could become a reality.
2017-10-10HONG KONG - The 20th anniversary celebrations for China Daily Hong Kong Edition on Monday assumed more meaning and significance than a regular birthday bash. In the lead-up to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s maiden Policy Address on Wednesday, the 340-plus gathering of distinguished guests featuring high-profile diplomats, public servants, captains of industry, academics and media and communication leaders were treated to a speech by the Chief Executive herself. Lam said she was unable to divulge the contents of her Wednesday presentation. But her keynote speech delivered at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Luncheon, held to mark China Daily HK’s 20th year, provided glimpses into her vision for Hong Kong’s future and how this ties up with the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by President Xi Jinping. Referring to the theme of the roundtable — Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges — Lam said it was “a most timely and relevant one” as it was “inspiring”, bringing together “two critically important national development strategies”. “Much synergy could be derived from interactions of both, particularly in shaping the future of Hong Kong,” she noted. “Indeed, I view the bay area development as a key pillar for the Belt and Road Initiative,” said Lam. She noted the increasing importance being placed on the special administrative region to work together with the cities in the Pearl River Delta to achieve prosperity for the region as well as serve as a strategically positioned conduit between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world. “In my view, the bay area will serve as the gateway between the Chinese mainland and the countries along the Belt and Road.” Referring to her first official trip after assuming office to Beijing in August, Lam said she had “secured the Central People’s Government's blessing for Hong Kong to enter into a comprehensive agreement with the mainland on the SAR’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative”. The CE added that she hoped to see the agreement drawn up before the year was out. As part of her government’s focus on innovation and technology and creating opportunities for the city’s young professionals and entrepreneurs, Lam mentioned a plan “to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the bay area”. Lam noted the way cities in the southern coast of China were already taking advantage of the nation’s innovation-driven development strategy. “If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it is important for us to join hands with these cities in the bay area in the development of the innovation center”.
2017-10-10Hong Kong can play a critical role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by transforming internationalized standards of institutions, according to Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, chairman of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Hong Kong. But, more interactive activities across the border and their implementation are the key to realizing such involvement, he told the China Daily Leadership Roundtable luncheon on Monday. Chen explained that Hong Kong is certainly one of the important hubs in the Greater Bay Area and, besides talents, what the SAR can contribute to the Greater Bay Area are its institutions with their international, professional and standardized legal system, regulatory framework, financial prudence and experience in conducting financial services. “People can be trained, but institutions cannot be established in a short period of time, and Hong Kong has the best international standards being practiced,” he said. “The key issue is how to realize it,” Chen stressed, adding that to achieve such transformation, three areas need improvement — interactive activities in business, culture and education; inter-connectivity; and interflow of resources — not only in capital but also the assets of institutions. He cited the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland as one way to enhance such transformation. Other innovative ways could be the setting up of a high-level governmental committee with budgets and positive power, and a strong Greater Bay Area council by the private sector based on the leadership of some leading companies, as in the case of San Francisco. Besides institutions, Chen said, Hong Kong really has its advantages as a center for higher education and a potential research and development (R&D) hub among the “nine plus two” cities within the Greater Bay Area, as Hong Kong has very good research-intensive education institutions. But, he stressed that Hong Kong’s R&D ecosystem still needs to be improved upon to support innovation, which could be achieved by collaborating with other “nine plus two”cities such as Shenzhen and Dongguan. Chen described the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area concept as “not brand new” as the idea had been brought up years ago. However, it’s refreshing that the concept has grown into a central, national strategy and, placed in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, it brings plenty of new aspects for discussion, Chen said during the panel discussion on the perspectives for opportunities and challenges from the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. He said the Greater Bay Area is the strategic doorway to Southeast Asian countries and other regions, connecting the Belt and Road with the world, and it needs international standards, with Hong Kong as the best place to offer them. tingduan@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-10Experts on Monday offered a host of suggestions for both the central and local governments to overcome the hurdles in achieving greater and more effective integration to facilitate greater growth among cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which aims to build a world-class city cluster by leveraging the strengths of the 11 cities within the area. They said that as the cities are located in three different jurisdictions with separate customs regulations, the restrictions of each jurisdiction on the circulation of economic elements may hinder the region’s integration. “We want to achieve a free flow of talents, goods, services and capital within the region, so there should be reciprocal arrangements to achieve freer flow of talents. Local governments within the region also need to explore ways of facilitating the free flow of renminbi and use technology to allow ‘one-stop’ clearance of goods in Hong Kong,” said Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Executive Council member and co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society. She suggested that Hong Kong people living and working in the Greater Bay Area should get national treatment, enjoying the same rights as local citizens, such as being able to send their children to local schools. And, to encourage mainland companies to set up global or regional headquarters in Hong Kong, the SAR government should allocate quotas for tech companies to import talents. “To achieve all these, there should be a high-level coordinating committee involving central government officials, say at vice-premier level, because if we want to have greater freedom in capital flow, we need special monetary policies from the central authorities, and it’s for the chief executive to demand that,” she told China Daily after a panel discussion on “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges”. As the area develops, its influence is likely to extend beyond the geographical boundaries of its city cluster to play a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a key link with countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, she said. Competition within the cities of the Greater Bay Area is inevitable, but Ip emphasized that cooperation is more important than competition. “There’s bound to be competition, but that’s good for us. Competition ensures that we improve our performance. But other than competition, we can also cooperate. As Hong Kong is short of land, we could collaborate with cities in the Greater Bay Area, leveraging on their land resources to build more innovative industries,” said Ip. Ip urged the Hong Kong government to work with the cities in Guangdong province to set up a Greater Bay Area development fund to invest in new industries in the region. “As Hong Kong has lots of reserves, we could set aside some of our reserves to invest in the region — that will bring Hong Kong much higher returns in the long term,” she said. Last year, the combined gross domestic product of the 11 cities in the Greater Bay area reached US$1.36 trillion, or 12 percent of the national economy. cherrylin@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-10Oct 9, 2017 HONG KONG: China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable held a luncheon panel discussion themed “Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt & Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges” on October 9, at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of China Daily Hong Kong Edition, The Honorable Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. YANG Jian, Deputy Director Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Mr. XIE Feng, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the SAR; The Hon. Mr. Andrew Leung, President of Legislative, HKSAR; Mr. Pana Janviroj, Executive Director of Asia News Network; Mr. ZHOU Shuchun, Editor-in-Chief Of China Daily Group; Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific ; and more than 300 government officials, consul generals, and industry elite from Hong Kong and abroad toasted for China Daily Hong Kong Edition. The Honorable Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivered the keynote address and said the topic was “a most timely and relevant one” that is “inspiring”, bringing together “two critically important national development strategies”. Also, she pointed out the innovation and technology, and expressed that HK government aims to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the Bay Area that will no doubt also contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative. If Hong Kong does not wish to be left behind, it is important for us to join hands with these (Greater Bay) cities in the Bay Area in the development of the innovation center. Mr. ZHOU Shuchun mentioned that China Daily Hong Kong Edition was founded to cater to the city’s huge community of English-speaking readers — to bring them news, views and in-depth research-based features from across China and beyond. The distinguished board of panelists, chaired by Prof. Edward CHEN Kwan-yiu, Chairman of the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education, comprised Ms. Pansy HO, Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd; Mrs. Regina IP LAU Suk-yee, Co-Chair of Maritime Silk Road Society; Mr. LI Xiaopeng, Vice-Chairman and Group President of China Merchants Group Ltd; and Mr. Nicholas W. YANG, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government. They discussed ways through which Hong Kong can contribute to and benefit from the Greater Bay Area development, as well as the opportunities and challenges for key industry players in the area. Ms. Pansy HO said the governments need to work together, and try to assimilate the efforts so that there could be pooled resources to create what we called one journey multi-destination travel; this is a very trendy development in global tourism context. Mrs. Regina IP LAU Suk-yee advocated relaxing regulations on the movement of people and resources between Hong Kong and the mainland. She said the Greater Bay will provide invaluable opportunity for Hong Kong to expand outwards, to use the area as our market to export our services, not just financial professional and business services but also personal services, which Hong Kong does so well, and also for our people to live a better life by living in the Greater Bay area. Mr. LI Xiaopeng said the governments need to build a more business friendly environment, such as to enhance the connectivity of transportation and logistics infrastructures. What’s more, governments need to encourage the consolidation of the resources in the region, he still see overcapacity, how to improve the synergy to realize the regional development, are among the questions the government need to consider. Mr. Nicholas W. YANG said not long ago, if you look at the Fortune 500 companies, the top 10 companies are usually banks, oil companies, etc. Today that changed. Today innovation and technology companies dominate top ten companies. Prof. Edward CHEN Kwan-yiu said as about this Guangdong-HK-Macao Greater Bay Area, the concept is not new, the idea has been brought up years ago, what new is that the concept has been grew into a central, national strategy and been placed in the context of Belt and Road Initiative, bringing us plenty of new aspects for discussion. The massive project is set to enhance the competitiveness of the Pearl River Delta region on the world stage and support the Belt and Road Initiative. The Greater Bay Area plan will invigorate regional growth and bring tremendous business opportunities. China Daily hopes the panel discussion will further highlight the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. (The End) Media Contact: Ms. Melody Hong Tel: (852) 3465 5427 Email: melody@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09HONG KONG – Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday innovation and technology will be her administration’s “priority area” as the sector will drive Hong Kong’s economic growth and improve the public's well-being. Speaking at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable luncheon, she highlighted the importance of collaborating with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the development of an international innovation and technology center. “I’m convinced that innovation and technology will help power Hong Kong’s future economy, improve people’s livelihood and create quality jobs for young people, as well as opportunities for young entrepreneurs,” Lam said. “It will, therefore, be a priority area for my government.” Hong Kong has a lot of potential to contribute to that goal with strong research and development capabilities, a highly valued and well-protected intellectual property rights system and a vibrant entrepreneurial environment, she told the luncheon held in conjunction with the roundtable forum themed “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from the Belt and Road Perspective: Opportunities and Challenges”. Currently, Hong Kong hosts some 2,000 innovation and technology startups and about 50 incubators, representing a 24-precent growth over the same period last year. “Hong Kong can contribute to the development, as our international networks can connect the bay area with international markets. And we are well versed in global technology trends and technical standards, thanks to a base of highly skilled workers supported by well-respected tertiary institutions,” said Lam. “At the same time, Hong Kong is set to benefit from the collaboration with other cities in the bay area as it would provide our businesses with better access to the manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta and ample opportunities in the huge mainland and Belt and Road markets.” Lam revealed that Hong Kong’s opportunities under the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative will “feature quite prominently” in her maiden Policy Address to be delivered on Wednesday. Pointing out that development of the innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area would contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, she said interactions of the two national grand plans will create a synergy effect, bringing greater benefits to Hong Kong. The chief executive also congratulated China Daily Hong Kong Edition on its 20th anniversary. Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Group, said the newspaper’s Hong Kong edition, founded shortly after the city returned to the motherland, was tasked with upholding the values of the “one country, two systems” principle, outlining its scope and clarifying the nuances according to the Basic Law of the special administrative region for its Anglophone readers.’’’ “‘One country, two systems’ gives expression to the vision of peace and harmony in Chinese culture. It embodies a very important tenet, namely, seeking broad common ground while setting aside major differences,” Zhou said, citing President Xi Jinping’s remarks during his inspection trip to Hong Kong in July. “I am happy to note that the Hong Kong Edition of China Daily, through its reports and opinion pieces, has been promoting a similar value system, founded on the principles of harmony and greater common good.” Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, said: “Our big ambition from the beginning was to establish China Daily Hong Kong as a solid part of the community – a dedicated, contributing player.” “We are proud of the achievements of ‘one country, two systems’, and of the active role we have played in fostering the spirit of cooperation.” sally@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09中國日報攜手政商學界獻策粵港澳大灣區之發展 2017年10月9日 香港 — 中國日報今日於香港君悅酒店舉辦題為「打造粵港澳大灣區:響應『一帶一路』倡議:機遇與挑戰」的亞洲領袖圓桌論壇,慶祝香港版創刊二十周年。香港特別行政區行政長官林鄭月娥女士、中央人民政府駐香港特別行政區聯絡辦公室副主任楊健先生、中華人民共和國外交部駐香港特別行政區特派員公署特派員謝鋒先生、香港特別行政區立法會主席梁君彥先生、亞洲新聞聯盟執行董事兼泰國《民族報》總裁Pana Janviroj先生,各國駐港領事,香港政府官員,立法會議員,傳媒高層,商會代表等350余名嘉賓出席了論壇,幷參加了慶祝儀式。 中國日報社總編輯周樹春先生在致辭中說,20年來,中國日報香港版一直踐行著自己「服務香港市民」的承諾,爲本地的英文讀者提供橫跨香港、內地與世界的新聞、評論及深度報道。「如今,它已經發展成爲一家具有良好聲譽和廣泛影響力的媒體,通過平面及綫上媒體等多種傳播渠道,獲得了衆多本地與國際讀者的青睞。」 香港特別行政區行政長官林鄭月娥女士做了主題演講,她特別強調科技創新,指出香港政府計劃在大灣區建立一個國際化的創新科技樞紐,這也無疑將對「一帶一路」倡議的發展做出貢獻。如果香港不甘落後,聯手與該區域城市群建立這樣一個中心對香港來說顯得尤為重要。 隨後,信德集團有限公司集團行政主席及董事總經理何超瓊女士;海上絲綢之路協會聯席主席葉劉淑儀女士;招商局集團有限公司副董事長兼總經理李曉鵬先生;香港特別行政區政府創新及科技局局長楊偉雄先生;以及嘉賓主持香港大學專業進修學院董事局主席陳坤耀教授在專題研討會上各抒己見,立足「一帶一路」倡議,聚焦粵港澳大灣區發展帶來的啟示。 何超瓊表示大灣區各地政府應該合力打造「一程多站」的旅遊生態圈,這在全球旅遊業也是新趨勢。 葉劉淑儀表示大灣區將為香港向外發展提供寶貴機會,該區域可成為輸出專業金融和經濟服務的市場,還有香港擅長的個人服務,大灣區廣闊的居住空間也將改變大眾生活。 李曉鵬表示大灣區各地政府需要通過加強物流、運輸等基建來打造一個更好的營商環境。同時,該地區還存在產能過剩問題,各地政府應該進一步進行資源的整合,提高協同效應來促進地區發展。 楊偉雄表示在不久前,財富500強的公司裡,前十名通常是銀行、石油等公司。現在情況已經改變,如今創新和科技公司主導了前十名。 陳坤耀表示大灣區的概念其實並不是第一次提出,但是今日的粵港澳大灣區規劃上升為國家戰略,而這個規劃與「一帶一路」的契合,也賦予了大灣區新的意義和討論空間。 「一帶一路」倡議自提出以來,受到香港社會各界的廣泛關注和積極響應,并落實為有效的實際行動,作為「一帶一路」倡議中的關鍵節點,粵港澳大灣區的發展優勢不言而喻。中國日報借此契機,主辦是次論壇,邀請各界共議粵港澳大灣區帶來的歷史新機遇,期以化願景為行動,共同推動大灣區建設。 中國日報社擁有報紙、網站、移動用戶端、臉譜、推特、微博、微信、電子報等十餘種媒介平臺,全媒體用戶總數累計約7200萬;期均發行量超過90萬份,其中海外60萬份;網站日均訪問量(PV)超過5200萬,全球移動用戶端用戶達700萬;在海外,通過每月發行500余萬份海外供版的《中國觀察報》(China Watch),直達美國《華爾街日報》和《華盛頓郵報》、英國《每日電訊報》、法國《費加羅報》、泰國《民族報》、俄羅斯《俄羅斯報》、日本《每日新聞》等美、歐、亞主流讀者群。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」旨在搭建一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平台,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論和分享見解,以增進中國與亞洲和西方國家的交流和理解。(完) 媒體垂詢: 洪夢求 小姐 電話:(852) 3465 5427 電郵:melody@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09HONG KONG – A grand plan to create a globally competitive cluster of metropolises in the Pearl River Delta calls for higher-level inter-governmental collaboration and coordination, a China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum heard on Monday in Hong Kong. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area plan, an initiative testing the region’s potentials to be the country’s next growth engine, is looking to ride high on the undertakings and goals of the nation-led Belt and Road Initiative. “While the Greater Bay Area plan remains in the planning stage, the Belt and Road Initiative, which has developed into an all-out national strategy of the world’s second-largest economy, has gotten on the fast track of execution and seen resources starting to flow into different areas,” Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, secretary for innovation and technology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, told the roundtable. With the 11 cities across the region, including Hong Kong, Macao and Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong province, betting big on gaining momentum from the proposed Greater Bay Area, the roundtable panelists called for high-level closer cooperation to achieve a win-win situation for all. “Instead of just either being competitive or collaborative, we have to work toward a competitive advantage, an advantage that would ensure collaboration,” said Pansy Ho Chiu-king, group executive chairperson and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings. “In future, we need to see governments working together, and trying to assimilate efforts so that there could be pooled resources to create what we call ‘one journey multiple destinations travel’,” she said. “In the global context, this is a very pretty trendy development.” Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, co-chair of the Maritime Silk Road Society, agreed. “With an ultimate objective of making the Greater Bay Area more open, more innovative and more integrative, we need a high-level coordinative mechanism,” she said. Ip believed that the grand plan cannot go without engaging “somebody very senior at the central government level”. “It has been suggested that it should be not be lower than the vice-premier level,” she added. To illustrate how the grand plan could put the region on course to benefit from synergies, whereby cities would give full play to their competitive edges and strategically focus on industries in which they have comparative advantages, Yang pointed out that Hong Kong’s efforts fit in with the Greater Bay Area’s quest to become an international innovation and technology hub. Although the SAR city stands as a pretty much important participant, it shares the common goal with Shenzhen and Guangzhou to develop the area into an innovation and technology center. This is where the cities can reinforce the theme of regional collaboration, he said. Backed by higher-level regional cooperation and integration, Hong Kong, equipped with better access to the manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta and massive markets on the Chinese mainland and along the Belt and Road routes, is set to reap the fruits by joining hands with other cities in the Greater Bay Area, Yang added. Billed as one of key events to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to its motherland, as well as the 20th year of publication of China Daily Hong Kong Edition, the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum has drawn together heavyweight policymakers, business leaders and academics from around the world to share their insights into ways of building a world-class bay area for the world’s second-largest economy under the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. sophia@chinadailyhk.com
2017-10-09Hong Kong is preparing the final touches to its long-anticipated free trade deal with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in its quest for a catalyst to boost regional trade and investment flows. “Hong Kong has been working intensively with ASEAN partners on the Hong Kong ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a view to complete it very soon,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuetngor said at the Hong Kong Summit on Tuesday. The much awaited FTA, on which negotiations once came to a deadlock and missed deadlines after rounds of talks since 2014, will “strengthen economic ties between ASEAN and Hong Kong by facilitating the flow of goods, services and investments”, Lam said. “When completed, the China ASEAN Free Trade Area and the FTA, coupled with CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement), would provide a solid platform to facilitate trade and investment among Hong Kong and ASEAN countries. It will also help unleash Hong Kong’s full potential as a hub for international trade and investment,” she reckoned. In a sign of the “importance that Hong Kong attaches to ASEAN region and the bilateral collaboration”, Lam told the summit she would make the ASEAN region the destination of her very first official overseas visit in her capacity as Hong Kong’s leader. “While the FTA negotiation is entering its final stage, I believe that, by the time it comes into effect, it will help Hong Kong uphold its unique role even more effectively and expand the scope of economic and trade cooperation within the region in a way that will benefit all of us,” Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Jonathan Choi Koonshum said at the summit. The ASEAN bloc now stands as Hong Kong’s second largest trading partner, next only to the Chinese mainland, and the fourth largest export market of Hong Kong behind the mainland, European Union and United States, as data from the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council showed. Over the first nine months of last year, the total trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN exceeded US$77 billion. Some five ASEAN economies are now among top 20 trading partners of Hong Kong. By the first half of last year, about 547 ASEAN companies had a presence in Hong Kong, accounting for roughly 6.8 percent of the foreign companies in the territory. Among them, 54 companies have their regional headquarters in Hong Kong, 136 set up regional offices and 357 opened their local offices in the city. Last year, 12 percent of trade between ASEAN and the mainland, with a value of more than US$54 billion, was routed through Hong Kong, underscoring the city’s unparalleled position as a hub of logistics, commerce, trade and finance in the region. Billed as one of the major events commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the Hong Kong Summit this year - its third session - has drawn heavyweight regulators, policymakers and market players from the mainland, Hong Kong and ASEAN countries to offer their insights on regional sustainable development. The oneday event opened on Tuesday with the theme of “Regional Cooperation between Hong Kong and East Asia: Innovating new ideas and embracing new opportunities”.
2017-07-12