Mathias Woo

Opinion | How Hong Kong and Shenzhen can be linked as a ‘super twin’ metropolis

From moving the Hong Kong government headquarters to the North District to setting up an art tech hub at the border, there are several ways to foster synergy between the two cities, starting with creative industries

Through collaboration, Hong Kong and Shenzhen could also find their place in the Belt and Road Initiative

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Mathias Woo

Published: 9:15am, 22 Oct 2022

The Hong Kong government must push forward the concept of a Shenzhen-Hong Kong “super twin” metropolis on its development agenda. Building on the constitutional principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong can take advantage of the “two systems” for the division of work within “one country”. Hong Kong and Shenzhen can complement each other through collaboration and exchange of talent. To achieve this, I propose nine approaches.

First, relocate the Hong Kong government’s headquarters from Admiralty to the North District in the New Territories. This would not only allow the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to work more closely together, but would also add focus to the area’s development – with the possibility of a new and sustainable smart zone stretching from the Hetao area, which straddles the border between the two cities, to Hong Kong’s North District.

Most major international cities offer more than 100 museums, big and small. With only two large-scale museums in the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong is far from being a world-class cultural metropolis. But if the government headquarters gave up its current space, a cluster of museums could be built as part of a new financial, entertainment and cultural district, with nightlife and other businesses.

Second, set up a Shenzhen-Hong Kong “electronic pass” to facilitate the movement of residents between the two cities, letting them travel back and forth for work and meetings easily using the MTR. Such an e-pass is feasible given the existing electronic currency and smart identification technology.

The e-pass would also allow for a more streamlined division of work for many industries. For example, a finance company lacking information technology professionals in Hong Kong could fill those positions with professionals in Shenzhen. Setting up offices in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen lets companies connect with the mainland market (via their Shenzhen office) while embracing the international market (via the Hong Kong office). This twin-city office set-up leverages “one country, two systems”, with the e-pass as a prerequisite and key supporting measure.

Third, set up an art technology hub at the border. The Hetao area would benefit from innovative technology industries. Hong Kong’s lead in art tech could be a starting point, complementing Shenzhen’s strength in technology. Albeit remote, Hetao may be the perfect location for realising this amalgamation.