The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) announced yesterday (August 28) that the first batch of the "Greater Bay Area Information Station" (GBAIS) digital information platform commenced operation. With a simple and easy-to-use interface, the GBAIS introduces to members of the public the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and useful information about the GBA cities, thereby enhancing the understanding of different sectors of the community about the policy directions and facilitation measures for the high-quality development of the GBA.

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, visited the GBAIS located at the Hong Kong Central Library today and introduced to members of the public the diverse and informative content of the GBAIS. She also encouraged Hong Kong young people to make good use of the significant opportunities brought about by GBA development.

"The GBA is one of the most open and economically vibrant regions in the country.  It is also the best entry point for Hong Kong to better integrate into the overall development of the country. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to GBA development, and has been adopting a multi-pronged approach to actively promote Hong Kong's participation in the high-quality development of the GBA, and to create more development opportunities for Hong Kong residents and enterprises," Ms Chan said.

"The Chief Executive has established and personally chairs the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, which is a top-level institution to provide high-level leadership and coordinate the work on Hong Kong's integration into the overall national development, including to actively dovetail with key national strategies such as the development of the GBA. The Steering Group has also introduced various policy measures to strengthen the connectivity in different aspects within the GBA and foster the efficient and smooth flow of people, goods, capital and information among various GBA cities," Ms Chan added.

"Hong Kong has the institutional strength of 'One Country, Two Systems', and also enjoys the distinctive advantages of having the strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world. The HKSAR Government will continue to capitalise on Hong Kong's strengths to proactively participate in the high-quality development of the GBA, thereby seizing the unlimited opportunities brought about by the country's development and injecting continued impetus to the growth of the HKSAR."

Ms Chan said that the HKSAR Government also attaches great importance to telling the good story of the GBA. The government will continue to make use of different channels to disseminate more positive information about the development of the GBA to local residents, enterprises as well as Mainland and overseas stakeholders, so as to let everyone know that the GBA is full of vitality, and is one of the most vibrant regions with the greatest development potential in the world. The development of the GBAIS by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of CMAB is one of the publicity strategies to strengthen the promotion of GBA development, and to provide more useful information about the GBA at the district level.

The first batch of seven GBAISs has been set up at different spots on the Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories (see Annex) to disseminate rich information about the GBA, including the development timeline, and the development directions and policy measures in different areas. The GBAIS also features short videos providing practical information for Hong Kong people and enterprises about living and developing in the Mainland cities of the GBA, e.g. application for Residence Permit, opening bank accounts, purchasing properties, education arrangements, taxation, healthcare and social security-related issues, etc.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office will gradually set up more GBAISs in different districts in Hong Kong for the convenience of users. The content of GBAIS has also been uploaded to www.bayarea.gov.hk/gbais for easy access by members of the public through the Internet.