Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam visited Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7, a trip that was aimed at seeking support for Hong Kong's integration into overall national development.
Reviving the Hong Kong economy has become one of Lam's top priorities now that the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong has brought law and order to the city, which was rocked by chaos, hatred, violence and crimes last year. The COVID-19 situation has also been stabilized in Hong Kong, providing another opportunity for Hong Kong to discuss with Central Government officials and Guangdong on ways to boost Hong Kong's economy.
Hong Kong used to be a gateway for multinationals to pour investment into the mainland and for mainland firms to go global. Amid deglobalization headwinds and China-U.S. tensions in recent years, the SAR suffered great setbacks. The violent protests last year and the COVID-19 pandemic this year dealt further blows to its economy.
The mainland has shifted its focus to "domestic circulation" to counter the impact of troubled relationships with the United States and some of its allies. Under this circumstance, it has become more urgent for Hong Kong to reinvent itself and find itself a niche in overall national development. The mainland's economy recovered at the fastest pace in the world amid the pandemic, presenting opportunities to the SAR to tap the giant market in the north.
The HKSAR Government will make good use of the opportunities brought about by the national development to continue promoting Hong Kong's economic and social development, Lam said at the end of her three-day trip to Beijing.
During her trip, Lam was met by Vice Premier Han Zheng. Lam and her team also held work discussions with officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the National Health Commission, and the National Development and Reform Commission.
After visiting Guangzhou, Lam met with Shenzhen Party chief Wang Weizhong and Mayor Chen Rugui on Saturday to discuss cooperation between the two cities. Wang said Shenzhen will strengthen the "brotherly" relationship with Hong Kong and support the SAR to seek better development.
As Lam has said, the best "paths" for Hong Kong's integration into overall national development are the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and enhancing cooperation with Shenzhen.
The Greater Bay Area covers nine Guangdong cities and Hong Kong and Macao. Two special economic zones, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, and two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macao, highlight the uniqueness and dynamism of the Greater Bay Area as compared to other bay areas in other parts of the world.
The Pearl River Delta is also a global manufacturing hub that is home to large numbers of high-tech companies and big-name manufacturers such as Huawei, Tencent, Gree, Midea, as well as complete and competitive industrial chains. Hong Kong has strengths in such areas as medicine, artificial intelligence and high-end service industries, and could cooperate on these areas with Greater Bay Area cities such as Shenzhen and Dongguan, the SAR's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has said.
Shenzhen — especially Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in southern Futian District — is the major venue where mainland-Hong Kong cooperation can quickly bear fruit.
Qianhai, targeting cooperation in modern services, has rolled out many favorable measures for Hong Kong businesses and residents. The number of Hong Kong-funded firms in Qianhai has surpassed 11,000 and over 200 Hong Kong innovation teams were established there under a youth innovation and entrepreneur program, according to official figures.
Hong Kong authorities are also working with their Shenzhen counterparts to build an innovation and technology park in Lok Ma Chau Loop, hoping that the land for building facilities there will be ready as early as 2022, according to Chan.
More than ever before, businesses and young people in Hong Kong need to adjust their mindsets to see themselves as a more genuine part of the country and embrace the abundant opportunities in the north.
(The author is a deputy editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily.)