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The View | Greater Bay Area is a chance for Hong Kong to show it hasn’t lost its edge
- Christine Loh says if Hong Kong is to capitalise on China’s development plan for the Pearl River Delta, the government must engage with sectors in which the city excels, such as universities and the maritime industry, to boost areas of specialisation
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Why you can trust SCMP
The Greater Bay Area plan, to be unveiled shortly, should be embraced and not feared. It will give Hong Kong the opportunity to showcase its strengths and a larger platform to stake its claim to innovation and excellence on many fronts.
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The last thing Hongkongers should do is doubt themselves or think they have lost their competitive edge. The city is not “finished” and innovation is thriving in many areas.
Colonial Hong Kong is history. Hong Kong can carve a new role for itself if it wants to. The Greater Bay Area is an opportunity to make a mark on the national and global stage, for Hong Kong to weave a new compelling story for itself as a part of China.
The Greater Bay Area plan is not just a development agenda for the region comprising Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong, but also a vital national plan for the region to play a leadership role in China’s overall development at a time of transition.
China has had a terrific run over the past four decades. The national government acknowledges the challenges it faces today – the old drivers of the economy through export production and investment have slowed significantly, and the workforce is ageing and peaking in size. Moreover, the nation is carrying considerable debt, and it has run up against trade and technology frictions with the West.
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