The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday with national and local labor authorities in Macao and Guangdong province, aiming to transform the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a hub for global talent as part of a broader initiative to support the nation’s modernization efforts.
The Greater Bay Area is China’s ambitious plan to integrate Hong Kong, Macao, and nine cities in Guangdong into a high-tech economic powerhouse by 2035.
The agreement was a key highlight of a seminar in Beijing attended by Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Labor and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han, and Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage Anthony Lau Chun-hon.
During the meeting, Chan engaged with representatives from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong province, and the Talent Development Committee of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.
The discussions centered on promoting talent exchanges and cooperation within the Greater Bay Area, culminating in the signing of the memorandum.
Speaking at the seminar, Chan described 2024 as a pivotal year for the integrated development of talent affairs in the Greater Bay Area, citing multiple milestones achieved.
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Among these was an agreement signed in January between Hong Kong and Guangdong to enhance cooperation on talent training, retention, and exchanges.
In May, Hong Kong also reached a memorandum of understanding with the other 10 Greater Bay Area cities to foster a more welcoming environment for professional workers.
Chan emphasized that Hong Kong has long served as a melting pot for global talent, acting as a gateway for talent exchange within the Greater Bay Area and across the nation.
He outlined three key roles for Hong Kong: establishing itself as an international hub for higher education, attracting innovative technology professionals and leading tech companies, and reinforcing its status as a global talent center.
These initiatives are expected to drive high-quality development in Hong Kong and nationwide, accelerating progress toward building a modern and powerful country, Chan said.
"The cities in the Greater Bay Area each possess unique development advantages, and there is vast potential for collaboration," he added.
The signing of the agreement follows a visit by a high-profile Hong Kong delegation to five of the nine Guangdong cities last month, which secured collaboration on projects valued at 100 billion yuan ($13.8 billion).
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Since December 2022, Hong Kong has implemented a series of new measures to attract and retain professional workers, including the launch of the Top Talent Pass Scheme.
