Leaders Examined Greater Bay Area Development Plan at China Daily “Belt and Road” Luncheon

Oct 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)


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