Hong Kong must prioritise Greater Bay Area goals, watch out for local impact of integration, ex-city leader CY Leung says
- Former chief executive says Hong Kong has ‘finite’ resources, cannot cover all bases in ambitious development zone
- Two-day International Bay Area Summit, where Leung was speaking, also featured video address by city leader John Lee, who hailed potential of Northern Metropolis
Hong Kong must prioritise its goals in the Greater Bay Area amid “finite” resources while watching out for the local impact of integration into the fast-moving development zone, an ex-city leader has said.
Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying on Monday urged the financial hub to carefully plan its strategy during a speech at the two-day International Bay Area Summit, organised by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences.
“We need to prioritise geography and sectors. Hong Kong cannot cover all nine cities fully and equally in one goal,” he said, citing “finite” resources.
Beijing’s plan for the Greater Bay Area envisions linking up 11 southern Chinese cities, including Hong Kong, to tap the development potential of its combined of 86 million-strong population.
While Leung stopped short of detailing how Hong Kong should prioritise, he touted Nansha district, an area of Guangzhou, and its place at the geographical heart of the bay area. Leung founded Minxin Hong Kong School there last year on a pro-bono basis to cater to students from Hong Kong.
