ebulletin

February 25, 2019
Symposium on the Outline Development Plan for the Greater Bay Area

The HKSAR Government, together with the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government held the Symposium on the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on February 21 to introduce the contents of the Outline Development Plan and explore the development opportunities of the Greater Bay Area.
In her speech, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that since the NDRC and the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, as witnessed by President Xi Jinping, signed on July 1, 2017 the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Greater Bay Area, the HKSAR Government has kept in close contact with relevant central ministries and the governments of Guangdong and Macao to draw up and introduce policies and measures for the development of the Greater Bay Area.
She said that the Outline Development Plan is the best manifestation of the close cooperation amongst the three governments and their positive interaction with the central ministries. In the process of drawing up the Outline Development Plan, the HKSAR Government put great efforts into reflecting the views our bureaux and departments obtained from consulting relevant sectors and stakeholders.
In setting out the opportunities for Hong Kong in taking part in the development of the Greater Bay Area, Mrs Lam said that under the "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong enjoys unique dual advantages. Hong Kong is a highly open and international city, with a business environment that is open and facilitating, and professional services that are of excellent quality. Our strengths can complement the advantages of the nine Mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area such as the size of their market, an all-rounded industry system and their relative strength in technology. In fact, taking forward the coordinated development of the Greater Bay Area is conducive to further enhancing Hong Kong's status as international financial, transportation and trade centres, as well as an aviation hub.
Mrs Lam pointed out that "One Country, Two Systems" is not only Hong Kong's advantage in the Greater Bay Area, but it is also the key foundation for the internationalisation of the Greater Bay Area. The development of the Greater Bay Area will enrich the practice of "One country, Two systems" and is conducive to maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

Mrs Lam also outlined the future work focuses of the HKSAR Government, namely:
1.	Consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as international financial, transportation and trade centres as well as an international aviation hub;
2.	Developing an international innovation and technology hub;
3.	Expanding the scope of development for sectors in which Hong Kong's strengths lie;
4.	Strengthening infrastructural connectivity;
5.	Fostering youth innovation and entrepreneurship; and
6.	Fully utilising Hong Kong's international connections and networks to promote the Greater Bay Area overseas and attract capital and talents to the Greater Bay Area.

For the contents of the Outline Development Plan and the latest information about the development of the Greater Bay Area, please visit www.bayarea.gov.hk

(From left) the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's
Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Xie Feng; the Deputy Chairman of the
Office of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-
Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Lin Nianxiu; the Chief Executive of the Macao Special
Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on; Mrs Lam; Vice-Chairman of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Mr Tung Chee Hwa; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; the Director
of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR,
Mr Wang Zhimin; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the
State Council Mr Huang Liuquan; and the Director General of the Department of
Regional Economy of the National Development and Reform Commission,
Mr Guo Lanfeng

Deputy Chairman of the Office of the Leading Group for the Development of
the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Mr Lin Nianxiu

Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chui Sai-on