Japan keen on Greater Bay Area but says Hong Kong’s ‘one country, two systems’ vital to its success, at Tokyo symposium
- Japanese firms view the development plan as an opportunity but raised concerns about regulation, freedom of information and intellectual property
- Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam was at the symposium on Tuesday, where she met Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe
A top Japanese commerce official said on Tuesday that Beijing’s “Greater Bay Area” development plan could help companies from his country tap into the Chinese market, but Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” ruling principle was key to its success.
State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiro Seki, who made his remarks at a Greater Bay Area symposium in Tokyo, was referring to Beijing’s ambitious plan to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities into a financial and economic powerhouse rivalling Silicon Valley by 2035.
Some Japanese leaders at the symposium said that, while they were interested in the plan, they had concerns about problems regarding regulation, intellectual property and freedom of information in mainland China.
The symposium was held for the first time overseas, hosted jointly by the Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province governments, and was attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Ma Xingrui, the Guangdong governor.
Lam, who was on her second visit to Tokyo in six months, also met Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday afternoon.
Abe, during the meeting’s opening when media were present, said he wanted to further develop economic ties with Hong Kong and bring in even more visitors.
