Hong Kong’s major political groups are hoping that this year’s Policy Address will bolster the city’s economic development by strengthening cooperation with other Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities in the fields of technology, shipping, and travel.

As the public consultation for this year’s Policy Address started on Tuesday, the city’s two major political parties — the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and the New People's Party (NPP) — have submitted their suggestions to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

It also advised the government to cooperate with Guangdong Province to set up a “high-quality development industrial cooperation zone” on the land, with a view to accelerating Hong Kong’s economic transformation

Among the NPP’s 26 proposals, the party suggested the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government advocate for the central government to allocate approximately 300 hectares in the mainland cities of the GBA to lease to Hong Kong for high-tech development.

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It also advised the government to cooperate with Guangdong Province to set up a “high-quality development industrial cooperation zone” on the land, with a view to accelerating Hong Kong’s economic transformation.

During a media briefing on Wednesday, NPP chairperson Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee noted that shortage of land and high labor costs have long hindered Hong Kong’s industrialization of technologies.

The cooperation zone would generally implement the laws and tax system of Hong Kong, allowing enterprises in the zone to enjoy similar operational conditions as in Hong Kong and better align with the international market, she added.

In addition, the party suggested the long-term development of the shipping industry and of ports’ land use should be planned better, with an emphasis on enhancing functional integration with other ports in the GBA.

Ip noted that the throughput of Hong Kong container terminals has declined in recent years and will be difficult to return to its previous level. She said she believes the reasons include the reduced number of shipping routes and aged container terminals.

Ip advised the government to launch consultancy studies to maintain the international competitiveness of Hong Kong’s shipping industry. The studies could concentrate on enhancing functional integration with other ports in the GBA, as well as setting up statutory bodies specializing in the management of port facilities.

To boost liquidity and market confidence, Ip also suggested setting up a second Tracker Fund to invest in listed companies with high yields and sound financial position.

In the recommendations the party laid out for the upcoming Policy Address, the NPP also proposed to investigate the implementation of a co-location arrangement at Hong Kong International Airport, and deepen collaboration with airports in the Chinese mainland

Additionally, she proposed replacing the existing annual pay trend review mechanism of civil servants with a performance-based system tied to economic performance and increase in real incomes.

In the recommendations the party laid out for the upcoming Policy Address, the NPP also proposed to investigate the implementation of a co-location arrangement at Hong Kong International Airport, and deepen collaboration with airports in the Chinese mainland. These new measures are expected to attract more travelers and air cargo from both the mainland and overseas to transit through Hong Kong.

The city’s largest political party, the DAB, met the chief executive on Tuesday and submitted 195 proposals on the new policy address.

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Gary Chan Hak-kan, the DAB chairperson, said he hopes that the government will strive to make it easier for mainland residents to travel to Hong Kong, for example, gradually allowing residents from nine GBA cities to obtain multiple-entry permits valid for travel to Hong Kong within a one-week period.

Lawmaker Brave Chan Yung called for Hong Kong to make good use of the “Panda Economy”, as the city will soon welcome a new pair of pandas gifted by the central government. Chan cited the example that pandas bring billions of incomes in GDP growth to Sichuan province.

The party also suggested abolishing the liquor tax, adding that it could help the export of national liquor and attract more international liquor merchants planning to enter the mainland market to settle in Hong Kong.

Contact the writer at fangxue@chinadailyhk.com