For Hong Kong actor Bowie Lam Po-yee, who has spent over three decades in the entertainment industry, the integration between the city’s and the Chinese mainland’s film and television sectors is a natural development.

Lam, renowned for his compelling performances in Hong Kong TV dramas, cited the logistical advantages and shared cultural roots of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while advocating for the preservation of local artistic identity.

He recently spoke with China Daily following the conclusion of his crime series D.I.D. 12, which was filmed throughout the Greater Bay Area. He praised the region for its scenic landscapes, developmental progress, and efficient transportation networks.

The production team was based in Foshan, and commuted daily to film locations such as Panyu district in Guangzhou and Dongguan. Lam credited this to the Greater Bay Area’s “one-hour living circle” that makes such an arrangement possible.

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Beyond transportation benefits, Lam said he believes the growth of the mainland’s film industry and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s unique cultural characteristics can complement each other.

Mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area offer excellent studio facilities, ideal for indoor filming; while Hong Kong’s outdoor scenes — such as double-decker buses, streets, and local cuisine — are hard to replicate, he observed, suggesting opportunities for mutual cooperation.

Lam said such cross-border film collaborations are increasingly common, calling it a natural progression “because Hong Kong SAR is part of China, and we are all Chinese”.

Marking the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, he expressed the hope that the city and the motherland will continue to move forward in unity and brilliance.

He fondly recalled his experience filming on the mainland years ago, citing the 2004 costume series War and Beauty, set in the Forbidden City during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), for which many scenes were filmed in Beijing.

Lam said that at that time, he knew little Mandarin and no simplified Chinese characters, and had to learn constantly from his mainland colleagues. He remembers buying Mandarin-teaching compact discs and textbooks from a Xinhua Bookstore, with his first lesson covering “Beijing roast duck”.

Now fluent in Mandarin and proficient in reading simplified Chinese scripts, Lam works frequently in Beijing and Shanghai. Throughout his career, he has witnessed the evolution and integration of Hong Kong’s local entertainment industry with its mainland counterpart.

Lam proudly noted that some of his earliest mainland fans there have progressed from students into producers and directors. They now jokingly refer to him as among “the earlier generation of Greater Bay Area brothers”.

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This nickname was originally coined for a group of Hong Kong entertainers who became popular on the mainland through the 2021 Chinese reality talent show Call Me By Fire. This renewed interest in Hong Kong culture and entertainment on the mainland, and fostered a deeper understanding of Greater Bay Area integration among younger people. That description has since broadened to incorporate more household names in the region, like Lam.

Lam said he believes that younger people should treat industrial development, like life itself and its ups and downs, with equanimity. He emphasized the importance of focusing on personal growth and taking time for thoughtful reflection.

Regarding the 15th National Games, which will be jointly hosted by the three regions of the Greater Bay Area in November, Lam affirmed their shared commitment to sporting excellence. He said he hopes the event is a great success, and that every athlete shines and achieves new heights.

Ida Xue contributed to this story.