Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

A Hong Kong delegation visiting its future partners in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area made Zhuhai its last stop on April 21. Here, on the Jiuzhou Channel link to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, they promoted urban cooperation.

The 29-member delegation included Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, administration head Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and financial leader Paul Chan Mo-po.

They were briefed by the Bridge Authority director, Zhu Yongling, on the latest progress. Leung praised construction workers for their amazing accomplishments.

Hong Kong delegation in Zhuhai [Photo by Li Haowan and Zhao Zi / Zhuhai Daily]

The development plan for a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was written in the government Work Report this year. When meeting with Carrie Lam, the chief executive-elect of Hong Kong on April 11, Premier Li Keqiang said the central government will draw up plans for the Bay Area this year. The concept is to increase connectivity between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, and boost the regional economy.

In response, the recent Hong Kong delegation surveyed Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Jiangmen, and Zhongshan from April 19 to 21. Leung said the Bay Area planning is of great significance and that Hong Kong should cherish the opportunity to make proposals to the National Development & Reform Commission by the end of June.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area encompasses Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province as well as the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. With population of 66 million and $1.3-trillion economy, the area has the potential to be the world’s most-competitive city cluster.