Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA) held a seminar today (December 15), promoting the latest developments of the Northern Metropolis and the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen to an audience of Mainland and foreign enterprises in Hong Kong, calling for their active exploration of the business opportunities arising from the Northern Metropolis and participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The seminar began with welcoming remarks by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, and the President of the HKCEA, Mr Yu Xiao, followed by two presentations on the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda and the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, delivered by the Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, Mr Vic Yau, and the Deputy Director General of the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Ms Yu Jing, respectively.

Ms Lau said, "The development of the Northern Metropolis will enable Hong Kong to forge closer economic co-operation with other GBA cities, capitalising on the huge opportunities arising from the high-quality development in the GBA. The different zones of the Northern Metropolis and the corresponding areas in Shenzhen will complement one another and develop in a co-ordinated manner. This will not only create a strong growth impetus for Hong Kong, but also provide a new focus for and inject new vigour into the development of the entire GBA."

Ms Lau added, "With the National 14th Five-Year Plan supporting Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to developing the Northern Metropolis into a 'new international I&T city'. The I&T zone in the Northern Metropolis will fully integrate with the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Co-operation Zone, establishing a 'SouthNorth dual engine' industry pattern."

Addressing the audience, Mr Yu said that this seminar, organised in collaboration with InvestHK, aims to facilitate companies in Hong Kong to better seize opportunities arising from the development of the Northern Metropolis with more communication platforms so that peers can work better together for mutual development. Hong Kong has rich resources in science and technology education and a deep pool of professional talent in various sectors, while Shenzhen has a vibrant atmosphere of innovation and entrepreneurship with clear advantages in high-tech industry development. Closer co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen will generate better synergy conducive to and has great importance in expediting the development of the GBA into an international innovation and technology centre, as well as creating new impetus for the development of the GBA. The Northern Metropolis, just one river away from Shenzhen, offers a good geographical advantage as a forefront to pilot the course of co-operation between the two places, plus act as a new engine for Hong Kong's future development offering unlimited opportunities.

The seminar included a panel discussion moderated by Member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Member of the Legislative Council Dr Hoey Simon Lee. At the panel, Mr Yau, Ms Yu and other speakers including Member of the Legislative and the Vice Chairman of China Merchants Port Group Co Ltd, Mr Yim Kong, and the Research Director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute, Dr Fang Zhou, had an in-depth discussion about the co-operation opportunities between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.