HK leader visits SZ, GZ to forge ties with GBA cities

Lee Ka-chiu (C) and officials of his administration meet media after arriving in Guangzhou yesterday. China News Services

Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) John Lee Ka-chiu wrapped up a one-day visit to Guangzhou and Shenzhen on Thursday, after sharing ideas about the facilitation of two-way talent flow, cooperation in innovation and technology, and financial services, as well as education cooperation projects of Hong Kong universities with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

This was Lee’s first visit to other GBA cities since he took office.

At 9:43 a.m., after arriving in Guangzhou, Lee posted on social media, saying he had sought to visit Guangdong as early as possible since normal travel between the mainland and Hong Kong resumed.

Lee Ka-chiu answers questions from media in Guangzhou yesterday. China News Services

At a meeting with Guangdong’s provincial officials, Lee exchanged views about Hong Kong cooperation in promoting the high-quality development of the 11-city GBA cluster.

Later in the afternoon, Lee met with Shenzhen leaders and discussed deeper comprehensive cooperation.

Prior to Lee’s visit, the Shenzhen government, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the CUHK-SZ signed an agreement Wednesday.

According to the agreement, the Shenzhen government has agreed to enhance support for CUHK and its Shenzhen campus. CUHK-SZ will further increase enrollment, especially in its master’s and doctoral programs. The Shenzhen government will offer land support and construction of dormitories for CUHK-SZ’s expansion, according to a release from the university on its official WeChat account.

The Shenzhen government will support CUHK and CUHK-SZ in participating in the construction and development of Qianhai, the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone and the Universiade Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Science and Education City, and will assist the universities to set up national laboratories and major scientific facilities. CUHK and its Shenzhen campus will strengthen collaboration in AI, microelectronics and robotics. With the support of the Shenhen government, the universities will set up colleges of public policy and microelectronics, jointly build the school of medical science and its hospital, and share education and research resources.

Lee said he would visit other GBA mainland cities and Macao to discuss the promotion of high-quality development in the GBA, with a view of injecting stronger impetus to the growth of Hong Kong and the entire GBA and achieving mutual benefits, according to an announcement from the Hong Kong government.

Lee mentioned that President Xi Jinping, in his visit to Hong Kong in July last year, had pointed out that Hong Kong should give full play to its unique advantage of being “backed by the motherland and connected to the world,” seize the historical opportunities brought by the development of the country and take the initiative to dovetail with the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Plan.