This undated photo shows the Lok Ma Chau Station on the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Legislators and political advisers in Shenzhen advocated a number of proposals concerning the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress opened on Monday.
More efforts should be made to push forward deeper integration of Hong Kong and Macao youths into the Greater Bay Area, said Chen Guoxiong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the city’s political advisory body.
Political advisers suggested that the Shenzhen New Marine City, which is located in the northwest of the Shenzhen Airport New Town with a planned area of 7.44 square kilometers, be developed into a pilot zone for Shenzhen-Hong Kong in-depth integration
He suggested that the local governments of Shenzhen and Hong Kong set up regular communication mechanisms and carry out feasibility studies on the matter. The Hong Kong government could set up an office in Shenzhen or service agencies like the China International Travel Service could be established in Qianhai or Lok Ma Chau Loop for implementation of related issues, he said.
A group of Shenzhen political advisers from the Hong Kong constituency, including the research director of One Country Two Systems Research Institute Fang Zhou, the executive vice-president and secretary-general of the Federation of Hong Kong Shenzhen Associations Tsang Ting-fat, have submitted a collective proposal to promote deeper cooperation between Qianhai and Hong Kong.
They said that although the cooperation has gained steam since the central government launched the Qianhai plan in September, giving the special economic zone a bigger role to play, there are still issues that need to be addressed. For example, the differences in rules and regulations between Qianhai and Hong Kong, and unsound cooperation mechanisms.
ALSO READ: Advisers propose more support for GBA inno-tech sector
“More explorations should be made on institutional innovation to enhance the width and depth of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation,” they said.
The political advisers suggested that the Shenzhen New Marine City, which is located in the northwest of the Shenzhen Airport New Town with a planned area of 7.44 square kilometers, be developed into a pilot zone for Shenzhen-Hong Kong in-depth integration, where the freest trade standards, the most preferential tax system, and the most convenient custom clearance arrangements could be implemented.
In the latest government work report on Monday, Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong said the city will seek deeper and closer cooperation with the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in 2022.
The construction of a number of major projects, including Shenzhen-Hong Kong port economic belt, Shenzhen-Hong Kong international tourism and consumption cooperation zone in Sha Tau Kok, rand enovation of Huanggang port will speed up, he said.
READ MORE: Infrastructure changes boost GBA’s growth
Other proposals put forward by local lawmakers and political advisers include the launch of a direct high-speed railway line between Shenzhen airport and Hong Kong’s West Kowloon,and stronger collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong firms and the TV industry.
