Singapore ETO hosts business dinner in celebration of 25th anniversary of establishment of HKSAR (with photos)
13.10.2022

âThe Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a business dinner in Singapore today (October 13) to share information on the latest opportunities in Hong Kong brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The hybrid-mode event was well received, attracting about 140 in-person and online participants from a wide spectrum of sectors including urban planning, architecture, real estate services and business consulting. Addressing the business dinner in a keynote speech delivered via videoconferencing, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, updated the audience on the latest developments of the two strategic growth areas in Hong Kong, namely the Lantau Tomorrow Vision and the Northern Metropolis, as well as Hong Kong's competitive edge as an international business hub with unparalleled access to the Mainland market. She first introduced the plan of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to reclaim and form at least 1 000 hectares of new land off Lantau. The vast area, called the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, will support the establishment of Hong Kong's third central business district and deliver quality living and economic space in a sustainable, bio-diverse and attractive environment with comprehensive blue-green infrastructure. She highlighted that the HKSAR Government is determined to develop the Northern Metropolis into a highly liveable and vibrant metropolitan area built on innovation and technology (I&T). "The Northern Metropolis will be at the heart of accelerating I&T co-operation between Hong Kong and the GBA, particularly with the neighbouring Shenzhen. At the centre of the Northern Metropolis is the San Tin Technopole, which will form an I&T cluster in Hong Kong. Together with a corresponding I&T zone on the Shenzhen side, the resulting 'one zone, two parks' development will provide land for research and development, advanced manufacturing and so on," she said. Underpinned by the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong's unique role as a bridge between the Mainland and international markets is an edge that will continue to grow in importance as Hong Kong's economic integration with the Mainland continues to deepen, she said. Extending a warm welcome to talents and businesses, she said the Development Bureau has been making efforts to introduce measures supporting professionals and industries to have greater market access in the Mainland and benefit from the developments in the GBA. According to official statistics, about 100 enterprises and 700 professionals have completed their registration in the nine Mainland GBA cities, enabling them to provide services there. As the ideal gateway to tap the immense business potential in the GBA area, Hong Kong is well prepared to connect people, talents, entrepreneurs, capital and economies by bringing them together to take part in, and benefit from, its various development growth areas, she added. Ms Linn's speech was followed by a presentation titled "Masters' Talk - Defining Homes in a Land of Opportunities" by Dr Liu Thai Ker, known as the "Father of Urban Planning" in Singapore, who spoke on his decades-long experience on urban development in the city-state as well as shared his perspectives on the development of the GBA. Co-organised with the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association, the business dinner was the 12th event held by the Singapore ETO this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR under the theme of "A New Era - Stability &bull; Prosperity &bull; Opportunity". For details on the celebration events held, please visit www.hketosin.gov.hk/events/about-25a.php .