Greater Bay Area Corner

Zeng Fengbao, Mayor of Shantou, Guangdong, led a delegation to the Chamber on 29 August, where they were welcomed by HKGCC LegCo Representative Jeffrey Lam and Chamber CEO Patrick Yeung.

Zeng said Shantou is promoting the high-quality development of its toy industry, which is mostly concentrated in the city of Chenghai, known as “China’s toy capital.” Lam said focus should be put on developing brand image, improving quality, and protecting the intellectual property rights of the products.

Shantou has also been actively working to improve and expand its transportation infrastructure. The Guangzhou-Shanwei high-speed railway, expected to open in late September, reduces travel between the two cities to 90 minutes. Zeng hoped the new link would attract more visitors to Shantou for tourism, investment and business.

Chamber Deputy Chairman Agnes Chan welcomed Chen Xiaofeng, President of CCPIT Guangdong Committee, to the Chamber on 23 August. Chen said Hong Kong capital accounted for 85% of the enterprises investing in Guangdong, as Hong Kong and Guangdong are closely connected. The two sides explored the possibility of setting up a mechanism to strengthen cooperation and promote the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area.

Mai Xiongguang, Secretary-General of Shenzhen Guangming District, led a delegation to the Chamber on 5 July, where they were received by Felix Lee, Vice Chairman of the China Committee.

Mai shared on the development of Guangming Science City, which is due to be completed at the end of this year. A key part of Shenzhen’s status as a comprehensive national science centre, it is expected to become a world-class hub by 2025. Guangming District also has a solid industrial foundation, making it a strategic base for different industries looking to relocate their headquarters. To protect the area’s abundant ecological and water resources, authorities are actively promoting green and low-carbon development to protect the environment.

For the Chamber’s first outbound mission since the pandemic began three years ago, a delegation of 35 members visited Nansha on 30-31 March, led by China Committee Chairman Eric Fok, GBA Working Group Convenor Petrina Tam, and YEC Chairman Olivia Kung.

To encourage more Hong Kong professionals to live and work in the GBA, Nansha has been proactively building a Hong Kong community with an array of projects featuring Hong Kong investment. The mission included excursions to Pony.ai Guangzhou, Nansha Mingzhuwan Guihua Exhibition Hall, Guangzhou CanSemi Technology Inc., Guangdong Medical Valley, New Youth Talent Apartment in Hong Kong and Macao, Consultative Committee on Guangdong-Hong Kong Co-operation (Guangzhou Nansha) Display Hall and Service Center, and Innovation Bay

Yao Ren, Deputy Secretary-general of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, visited the Chamber on 29 March, where he was received by Agnes Chan, Chamber Deputy Chairman. The two parties agreed that Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as dynamic and innovative cities, could join hands and work to seize opportunities in the GBA.

Zhong Jianbo, President of CCPIT Yangjiang, visited the Chamber on 10 March, where he was received by Felix Lee, China Committee Vice Chairman. They discussed ways to deepen cooperation under the current framework, and Wang invited members to visit Yangjiang to explore business opportunities. They also expressed hoped that both parties could strengthen ties between the two places.

Chen Yuehua, Deputy Director of Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province visited the Chamber on 1 March, where they are received by Felix Lee, China Committee Vice Chairman. Both parties exchanged ideas on the construction of the Greater Bay Area, healthcare sector, and assisting Hong Kong integrate into the national development.

Wu Runling, Secretary of Dongguan Wangniudun Town, led a delegation to the Chamber on 27 February, where they are received by Emil Yu, General Committee Member. Connected to the centre of Dongguan and located the middle of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Economic Corridor, Wangniudun Town was a good place for Hong Kong and Shenzhen enterprises to settle in Dongguan, Wu introduced.

Petrina Tam, GBA Working Group Convenor received the delegation led by Yu Jianchun, Vice Chairman of Guangzhou Federation of Industry and Commerce, on 21 February. Both parties exchanged views on deepening cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Yu also invited Chamber leaders to attend their Spring Dinner in late March in Hong Kong.

Eric Fok, General Committee Member & Chairman of the China Committee, received a delegation led by Xue Jiang, the Head of the Luohu’s Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau on 17 February. Both parties discussed potential cooperation in sports and cultural tourism, as well as technological innovation and business services.