This photo on Sept 21, 2021 shows the Mid-Autumn Festival Concert in the Greater Bay Area in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
The Mid-Autumn Festival Concert in the Greater Bay Area, held in Shenzhen on Tuesday, raised the sense of belonging among Hong Kong residents, some of whom expressed their confidence in national development and a willingness to integrate into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The gala event, with the special meaning of “Bright moon shines over the Greater Bay Area”, featured performances by veteran and young pop stars from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao special administrative regions, as well as Taiwan. It was not only a celebration of the traditional Chinese festival, but also a showcase of the inherent cultural connections and emotional relations between the Chinese mainland, the two SARs and Taiwan.
The concert was not only a celebration of the traditional Chinese festival, but also a showcase of the inherent cultural connections and emotional relations between the Chinese mainland, the two special administrative regions and Taiwan
The Greater Bay Area concert was held days after the central government announced new development blueprints for Qianhai in Shenzhen and Hengqin in Zhuhai, which pushed cross-boundary collaboration in the 11-city cluster to a new high. Hong Kong residents believe the Greater Bay Area presents historic opportunities for them, especially young people.
Henry Chu Wun-chiu, 26, who was born in Hong Kong and once studied at Jinan University in Guangzhou, said that the government currently provides many opportunities for Hong Kong’s young generation to work and live in the Greater Bay Area.
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“In the past, some young people in Hong Kong knew little about the Chinese mainland, sometimes even had misunderstandings towards it,” said Chu, who now works for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong as a community officer.
“But I have seen that many industries are developing in the Greater Bay Area, such as technology, since I studied on the Chinese mainland.”
Chu also noted that a series of measures have been launched recently by the government to support fresh graduates to intern and work in the Greater Bay Area. “I believe Hong Kong people can find ideal opportunities on the mainland if they are willing to work hard,” he said.
Edward Leung Hei, CEO of Hong Kong China Development Holdings Ltd’s Chinese mainland division, who has worked in Dongguan for around 13 years, noted that there are great opportunities in the Greater Bay Area compared to the past, which provide ample entrepreneurial resources for startups.
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“You can easily reach capital and other resources in the Greater Bay Area cities such as Shenzhen,” Leung said. “Many favorable policies will support startup owners to do the things they want to do. I believe the Greater Bay Area owns a promising future for young people to start their career.”
