China’s top legislature has recognised Hong Kong’s “irreplaceable” role as the country’s gateway to the world, pledging to conduct more studies to promote future Greater Bay Area development.
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Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the National People’s Congress (NPC), said on Tuesday that the central government would offer more support for Hong Kong and Macau’s participation in the development of the bay area.
“Hong Kong, Macau have been an important window for our country’s opening up. They have unique positions and made significant contributions in the more than 40 years of reform and opening up. Their roles are irreplaceable,” he said.
The bay area, a national development blueprint that draws Hong Kong with Macau and nine Guangdong cities to become a new economic powerhouse, will mark its sixth anniversary this year.
Lou said the bay area had enjoyed continued improvement in infrastructure connectivity, policy alignment and people-to-people bonding.
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He stated that the area’s total economic output had climbed to over 14 trillion yuan (US$1.9 trillion) in the past five years, with the “one-hour living circle” evolving from vision to reality as the flow of goods, capital and people become more convenient.