Chief Executive John Lee met CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee Secretary Huang Kunming in Guangzhou today to talk about Hong Kong’s co-operation with Guangdong in promoting high-quality development in the Greater Bay Area.

Mr Lee expounded on his meeting with the Guangdong Province leader and certain details concerning their discussion while fielding questions from the media this afternoon.

“He has explained to me his vision as regards the overall development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which is something I share completely.

“We discussed how to promote its high valued-added development. This is not just an area we should all aim for, it is an area we must go into. Otherwise, the value of its creation will be discounted.

“We shared a lot of the common beliefs and also, the areas of work to be done were very quickly agreed upon. That means we now can concentrate on the actual action plans and I think that is very important.”

As he continues his first visit to cities in the bay area since taking office, the Chief Executive explained the importance of why organising such high-level meetings is so crucial to Hong Kong’s collaboration efforts with Guangdong.

“A high-level meeting is not just a means of showing mutual support. It is a means of ensuring that things can be ironed out more quickly so that directions are immediately made clear and working-level staff clearly know the directions and then they will have less friction - a pure and very clear direction and aim - so as to allow them to work out their action plan.

“This visit also means that there will be many other visits which will eventually create extra value.”

Mr Lee then left for Shenzhen where he met CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee Deputy Secretary and CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee Secretary Meng Fanli and CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary and Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong.

They exchanged views on Hong Kong's co-operation with Shenzhen in areas including higher education, finance, tourism, development of the Northern Metropolis, innovation and technology (I&T) and intellectual property (IP).

Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to deepen I&T co-operation and exchanges with the Mainland, particularly GBA Mainland cities, including working with Shenzhen at full steam to push forward construction of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Co-operation Zone at the Lok Ma Chau Loop, with a view to exploring the trial implementation of a cross-boundary I&T policy, premised on the basis of “one zone, two parks”.

The first three buildings of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park will be completed in phases from the end of 2024 onwards.

The Chief Executive welcomed the promulgation of the Opinion on Providing Financial Support for the Comprehensive Deepening Reform & Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone today, and thanked the central government for its continuous support to Hong Kong's integration into the national development of the reform and opening up of the financial market.

Mr Lee was also pleased to note that the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality today jointly promulgated the 16 Co-operation Measures for the Development of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Intellectual Property & Innovation Hub.

The measures cover areas of co-operation in IP protection, exploitation and transformation, exchange and study, promotion and education, and IP trading.

They pave the way for Hong Kong's IP sector to explore opportunities in the GBA, and at the same time, support Qianhai's IP sector to leverage Hong Kong's advantages and platform in connecting the world to conduct IP trading activities.

Mr Lee returned to Hong Kong in the evening.