LCQ18: The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre
10.1.2024

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yung and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang, in the Legislative Council today (January 10): Question: To further enhance publicity and promotion as well as the support for Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong has set up the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre (the Promotion Centre) to further strengthen co-operation with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, InvestHK and relevant organisations and institutions in the Mainland, provide GBA-related information and enquiries services, and render appropriate assistance to Hong Kong residents and enterprises when needed. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the number of exchanges and promotional activities organised by the Promotion Centre for Hong Kong residents and enterprises in Mainland cities since its establishment (with a tabulated breakdown by the nature of activities (e.g. providing enquiries services, organising seminars and study missions)) and the specific details of such activities; (2) of the number of requests for assistance received by the Promotion Centre from Hong Kong residents and enterprises since its establishment; and (3) whether the Promotion Centre will continue to follow up the operating conditions of Hong Kong enterprises participating in the exchanges and promotional activities, and establish a method to quantify the effectiveness of such activities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? Reply: President, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has all along attached great importance to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area), and has introduced a number of policy measures in various areas to support Hong Kong residents and enterprises to pursue development in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, as well as to assist Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area in tapping into international markets, thereby fully leveraging Hong Kong's dual roles in "going global and attracting foreign investment". The development of the Greater Bay Area is the best entry point for Hong Kong to better integrate into overall national development. The HKSAR Government will proactively take forward the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area based on the spirit of achieving mutual benefits and facilitating reciprocal development. Our reply to the Hon Chan Yung's question is as follows: The Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre (Promotion Centre) established under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong officially came into operation in April 2023 to further enhance the publicity and promotional efforts of the HKSAR Government in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, as well as to provide support for Hong Kong residents and enterprises there. During its initial stage of operation, the Promotion Centre visited the Greater Bay Area Offices as well as relevant government departments of Guangdong Province and the nine Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area to establish close and cordial working relations, and conducted visits to Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area to learn about the operation of the bases and the preferential policies and measures provided to Hong Kong young people. Through strengthening strategic co-operation with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and relevant organisations and institutions in the Mainland, and through providing practical information and enquiry services on the Greater Bay Area, as well as organising different types of activities including seminars and study missions, etc, the Promotion Centre promotes the opportunities brought about by Greater Bay Area development for Hong Kong residents and enterprises interested in pursuing development in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. The Promotion Centre also seeks to better understand the needs of Hong Kong residents and enterprises and strives to provide them with practical assistance. At the same time, the Promotion Centre, through different forms of exchanges and promotional activities, encourages Mainland talents and enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages under the principle of "one country, two systems", to explore more development opportunities in Hong Kong and to "go global", thereby creating even greater room for development. Specifically, the Promotion Centre organised and participated in different activities on Greater Bay Area development, including jointly organising the "GoGBA Greater Bay Area Development Day" seminar with the Greater Bay Area Development Office and the HKTDC (Guangzhou) in April 2023, during which successful entrepreneurs and start-ups shared their experiences and exchanged views with participants on how to capitalise on the huge opportunities arising from Greater Bay Area development. In May 2023, the Promotion Centre staged an exhibition at the SmartHK "Promotion of High-quality Development &bull; Hong Kong Forum" co-hosted by the HKTDC and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Commerce to showcase Hong Kong's important roles and unique strengths in Greater Bay Area development. It also co-organised with the HKTDC a sharing session of "Promotion of High-quality Development &bull; Hong Kong Forum Smart+Start-up Pitching Event". In August and October 2023, the Promotion Centre co-organised seminars with relevant government departments and organisations in Guangzhou and Huizhou respectively to introduce to representatives of enterprises as well as young people and start-up enterprises the environment for investment and entrepreneurship, taxation and talent policies, etc, of relevant Mainland cities and Hong Kong, as well as to arrange for Hong Kong entrepreneurs in the Mainland to share their personal experiences. These activities assisted enterprises, young people and start-ups from Guangdong and Hong Kong to better understand the development trends and latest policies of the Greater Bay Area, so as to grasp the business opportunities and expand their business networks. In addition, the Promotion Centre arranged and facilitated various Hong Kong organisations and groups to conduct visits to the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, particularly in making arrangement for delegates to meet with representatives from local governments and enterprises, and introducing to delegates opportunities brought about by Greater Bay Area development, as well as helping delegates to expand and strengthen their networks, etc. In August 2023, the Promotion Centre arranged for the Hong Kong delegation of the "Synergise GBA" of the HKTDC to attend a networking dinner with the Council for the Promotion of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Co-operation. In October of the same year, the Promotion Centre collaborated again with the HKTDC and served as a strategic partner of another trade mission of the HKTDC to Guangzhou, introducing to delegates the development trends and latest policies on Greater Bay Area development. In early December 2023, the Promotion Centre assisted the Belt and Road Office of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to make arrangements for the business delegation of enterprises of Belt and Road countries operating in Hong Kong to visit Guangzhou and Shenzhen, so as to enhance the delegates' understanding of the huge business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area. Categorised by nature of activities, the numbers of exchanges and promotional activities like seminars or symposiums etc, studies or visits organised or participated by the Promotion Centre as well as enquiry services provided, from April to December 2023, are as follows: Nature of activities April to December 2023 (Number) Exchanges and promotional activities such as seminars or symposiums organised and participated 45 Studies or visits conducted 38 Enquiry services provided as well as meetings and exchanges with visiting organisations/personnel 25 During the period from April to December 2023, the Promotion Centre received a total of 52 enquiries and requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents and enterprises, including issues about setting up businesses in the Mainland and taxation matters. Based on the nature of enquiries and requests for assistance, the Promotion Centre has rendered appropriate assistance, including providing relevant information or making suitable referrals and follow-up. Looking ahead, the Promotion Centre will continue to build on its good foundation of work and maintain close contact with Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, as well as Mainland government agencies and related bodies. At the same time, the Promotion Centre will strive to understand, through various channels, the development situation and needs of Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the Mainland as well as the latest policies and facilitation measures of the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. It will, through various kinds of meetings, exchanges and promotional activities, provide practical information and appropriate support to Hong Kong residents and enterprises and assist them in making the best use of the opportunities brought about by Greater Bay Area development.