Winners of the first awards ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs pose for photos with their award presenters, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on Oct 29, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Young people, with their innovative spirit and intelligence, are expected to play an important role in the continuing development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, regional officials and business leaders said on Thursday.

They made the remarks at an event at which 78 young entrepreneurs in the region were recognized at the first awards ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs. The awards, established by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union, recognize young entrepreneurs’ achievements in innovation, public services, and social responsibility.

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Regional officials and awardees pose for a photo at the first awards ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on Oct 29, 2020. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR GOVT)

Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony, Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the integration of Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao has brought broad development potential for the young generation in the three places.

Young people should seize the opportunity to take full advantage of their talents and explore new fields of their own, he said.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung Kin-chung delivers a speech at the first awards ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on Oct 29, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

In a remote online speech at the event, Shenzhen Vice-Mayor Ai Xuefeng called on the awardees to lead by example to inspire more young people to start their own businesses and follow their careers in the Bay Area.

The Shenzhen government will continue to fully implement policies and measures to facilitate the establishment and development of the startups in the city, Ai said.

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Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said he believes that the Bay Area is one of China’s most dynamic regions — one where young people can contribute to the development of the country and to world prosperity.