As stated in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, the strengths of the Greater Bay Area will be leveraged to foster mutual capacity development. The HKSAR Government will promote Greater Bay Area development by building a higher level of connectivity, facilitating policy innovations and breakthroughs, pursuing wider harmonisation of rules and mechanisms, and expediting co-ordinated development of I&T and related industries. To enable the public to better understand the key measures for taking forward Greater Bay Area development stated in the Policy Address, the Office has compiled a quick overview of the measures related to the Greater Bay Area as below.
Continue to Enhance the Mutual Market Access Regime
Reinforce Hong Kong’s status as the world’s largest offshore Renminbi business hub; and look to enhance the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme
Joint Investment in the Greater Bay Area
The Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited is proactively exploring with the Mainland co-operation opportunities for joint investment in Greater Bay Area projects that present the potential to realise economic and social benefits
Expand High Value-added Logistics Services
Make good use of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to expand the catchment area of Hong Kong’s cargo services and facilitate more goods to go through Hong Kong
Enhance Aviation Development Strategies
Improve the Fly-Via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong direct passenger service and jointly develop international air cargo business
Enhance Advantages of the Air Cargo Industry
Press ahead in full steam with the innovative development of a sea-air intermodal cargo-transhipment mode, complete the first-phase construction of the Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Logistics Park by the end of 2025, and make advance planning to commence the second-phase development
Promote Major Transport Infrastructure Development
Press ahead at full speed with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu-Qianhai) and the Northern Link Spur Line to enhance linkage between Hong Kong and Shenzhen
Increase Tourist Arrivals
Propose to the Central Government the resumption of Shenzhen residents’ “multiple-entry” Individual Visit Endorsements and the expansion of the “one trip per week” Individual Visit Endorsements to cover more pilot cities
Further Facilitate Northbound Flow of Talents
Extend the validity period of multiple-entry visas to a maximum of five years for foreign staff of companies registered in Hong Kong
Strengthen Support for Youth Development
Enhance the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme, and explore reciprocal arrangements
Enhance the Mechanism on Recognition of Professional Qualifications
Collaborate with the Guangdong Province and Macao to create the Greater Bay Area Standards on the skill level for skilled workers in the construction sector, and work with the “One Examination, Multiple Certification” arrangement
Strengthen Legal Co-operation
Enhance the arrangement for cross-boundary service of judicial documents, and promote the establishment of a Greater Bay Area legal information platform and a dedicated platform for Greater Bay Area lawyers to facilitate professional exchange and training
Scale up Medical Collaboration in the Greater Bay Area
Extend the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme to cover the nine Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area
Care for the Elderly
Enhance the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong, to provide more choices and support for elderly persons who opt to stay in RCHEs in the province
Publish the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park in the Loop
Publish the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, setting out innovative policies to facilitate the flow of personnel, materials, capital and data between the two parks
Strengthen Biomedical Technology R&D and Translation
Join hands with Shenzhen to establish the Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform, extending the R&D network and expediting clinical trials
Promote Data Flow
Extend the Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong) to all sectors, promoting more cross-boundary services to benefit the public and businesses while facilitating data flow throughout the Greater Bay Area
The Fifth Session of the Elaboration of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation concluded in Hong Kong, and it was decided that the signing ceremony for the Convention will be held in Hong Kong in 2025. Upon the formal establishment of its headquarters in Hong Kong, the International Organization for Mediation will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services, thereby building Hong Kong as a capital for international mediation.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission launched the 2025-26 Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland (1st round), which aim to enable Hong Kong young people to experience the actual workplace environment in the Mainland and deepen their understanding of the Mainland’s employment market, workplace culture and development opportunities, while enhancing their awareness and understanding of the country’s development, fostering their exchanges with Mainland people and strengthening their sense of national identity.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held from 19 October to 24 November, during which over 260 spectacular events were staged in the “9+2” cities of the Greater Bay Area, presenting audiences with the rich arts and cultural essence of Greater Bay Area cities and showcasing to the world the new landscape of a bay area for culture.
The Digital Policy Office set up Hong Kong Cross-boundary Public Services self-service kiosks and “iAM Smart” self-registration kiosks in Foshan and Huizhou, helping residents and enterprises in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area access public services of Hong Kong without the need to travel to Hong Kong in person.
Seven additional RCHEs have become Recognised Service Providers under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong, bringing the total number of RCHEs participating in the Scheme to 11. These RCHEs are located in the following five Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area:
| Shenzhen: | The Hong Kong Jockey Club Shenzhen Society for Rehabilitation Yee Hong Heights, and 深業頤居養老運營(深圳)有限公司 (Chinese name only) |
|---|---|
| Guangzhou: | Home For The Aged Nansha (Yinian Medical Senior Citizen), Yishou Enjoylife Elderly Care Guangdong Guangzhou Luhujiazhanghui Nursing Home Branch, Guangzhou Tianyue Hexihui Home for the Elderly, and Guangzhou Chunxuanmao Chenchong Senior Living Service Co, Ltd |
| Foshan: | 佛山市暢享薈養老院有限公司 (Chinese name only), Foshan Canopusland Co, Ltd, and Hetai Center |
| Zhongshan: | Zhongshan Torch Development Zone Yikang Senior Services Center |
| Zhaoqing: | The Hong Kong Jockey Club Helping Hand Zhaoqing Home for the Elderly |
The facilitation measure on the Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong) has been extended to all sectors in the Greater Bay Area, promoting more cross-boundary services to benefit the public and businesses while facilitating data flow throughout the Greater Bay Area.
The first batch of brokers eligible to participate in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Pilot Scheme was announced. 14 licensed corporations in Hong Kong will work in partnership with their Mainland partner brokers as confirmed by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to offer services related to Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect.
The Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy convened its first meeting to discuss the overall strategies and work plan for developing the low-altitude economy. The relevant work directions include taking forward Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects; bringing enhancements to legislation; and promoting an interface with the Mainland to facilitate cross-boundary low-altitude flying activities within the Greater Bay Area.
The first batch of 207 Hong Kong engineers from the public sector, consultants and contractors passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area engineering “Professional Title” evaluation and obtained corresponding engineering professional qualifications on the Mainland. “Professional Title” is a unique evaluation system for professional qualifications adopted by the Mainland. It is an important benchmark for evaluating the skills and qualification levels of professionals and provides a basis for construction enterprises to recruit and promote talents. The pilot mechanism for evaluation of “Professional Title” qualifications is an innovative mechanism for Hong Kong professionals to acquire such qualifications on the Mainland, and represents a major breakthrough in the convergence of the rules between the two places in the area of professional qualifications, thereby helping Hong Kong professionals gain recognition of their skill levels and qualifications in the Mainland market, and creating favourable conditions for the development of Hong Kong professionals on the Mainland.
The 2024 implementation meeting of the Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was held in Hong Kong, which summarised the progress made in the implementation of the Plan last year and discussed the key tasks for the upcoming year. The HKSAR Government will fully support and implement the key tasks of the Plan, closely collaborating with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province as well as other culture and tourism departments of Greater Bay Area cities to deepen tourism co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong’s role in national tourism development and contributing to achieving the goal of developing a world-class bay area for leisure, as set out in the Plan.
The sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference was held in Zhongshan to promote the flow of legal talents among the three places, and take forward the interface of regulatory frameworks and the establishment of a diversified dispute resolution mechanism in the Greater Bay Area, with a view to providing legal support for the development of a world-class bay area.
The Government promulgated the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which comprehensively and systematically outlines the vision and mission of the development of the Hong Kong Park in the Loop, the historical background and basis of the Loop development, major development directions, strategy and target of the Park, and the facilitation measures to promote the flow of cross-boundary elements between the Hong Kong Park and the Shenzhen Park, with a view to setting out a clear development plan for the Hong Kong Park.
The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, established and wholly owned by the HKSAR Government, was officially opened in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center of the Shenzhen Municipality was also opened in the Shenzhen Park on the same day. The establishment of “one institute, one center” marked the first benchmark for co-ordinated development under “one zone, two parks” of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.
The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, attended Care Food Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Standards Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong. The “Care Food” Greater Bay Area Standards not only help the industry understand the food texture requirements of people with different chewing abilities, but also provide a reference framework for the catering industry in developing “Care Food” dishes and making soft meals. This will encourage restaurants and food manufacturers to introduce more elderly-friendly meals, thereby enabling elderly consumers to safely and easily rediscover the joy of dining, and to enjoy a better quality of life.
The Environmental Protection Department and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Development and Application of Hydrogen Energy in Hong Kong to strengthen collaboration between both parties in promoting the development, demonstration of application, as well as capacity building of the hydrogen energy industry, thereby positioning Hong Kong as a demonstration base for the national development of hydrogen energy, and enhancing public awareness of green hydrogen technology.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a delegation of the HKSAR Government and senior representatives of the business sector to Guangzhou on 25 November to attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong Deepening Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Conference co-organised by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the HKSAR Government, exchanging views on how to enhance economic and trade investment and co-operation, and promote high-quality development in the Greater Bay Area. Afterwards, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led the delegation to visit five Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, namely Foshan, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Huizhou and Shenzhen, to learn more about the successful experiences in the development and industrial planning of the Guangdong areas, and to further promote the HKSAR’s co-operation with the Guangdong Province and Greater Bay Area cities on business, trade and various industries. The delegation comprised about 50 members, including over 30 senior representatives from large enterprises, financial institutions and chambers of commerce in Hong Kong. The government official members of the delegation included the SCMA, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Commissioner, Ms Maisie Chan.
With the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s equity acquisition of Zhuhai Airport, the HKSAR Government will work with Zhuhai to enhance the Fly-Via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong direct passenger service, and achieve greater synergy by integrating the international aviation network of Hong Kong International Airport and the domestic aviation network of Zhuhai Airport. The HKSAR Government will also develop the international air cargo business in collaboration with Zhuhai and take forward the development of a high-end aviation industrial cluster, with the aim of realising a development plan which is mutually beneficial to the two places.
The one-year Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area was officially launched, marking a new height in high-quality medical collaboration and development in the Greater Bay Area while addressing the earnest anticipation of residents in the Greater Bay Area. In the first phase of the Pilot Scheme, arrangements can be made for patients with specific needs to be transferred directly from the University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen Hospital or the Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong without the handover of patients between ambulances at boundary control points, thus minimising risks posed to patients during transfer. The HKSAR Government will continue to deepen healthcare collaboration with other Greater Bay Area cities to further boost healthcare integration within the Greater Bay Area, thereby building a Healthy Bay Area through joint endeavours.
The Central Government has resumed the multiple-entry Individual Visit Endorsements for Shenzhen permanent residents and implemented a new arrangement to expand the multiple-entry Individual Visit Endorsements to Shenzhen non-permanent residents holding residence permits, allowing them to visit Hong Kong more conveniently and freely, and thus further adding new momentum to Hong Kong’s tourism, catering, retail, and other industries.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended a seminar convened by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in Beijing to exchange views on promoting talent exchanges and co-operation in the Greater Bay Area and to deepen and forge the work of building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talents.
The Second Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracting about 1000 business leaders and representatives of enterprises from Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao, as well as from other Mainland cities and overseas, for in-depth exchanges on key issues relating to Greater Bay Area development for promotion of the advantages and opportunities of the Greater Bay Area. The Conference provided a platform for the governments and the business sector to jointly drive forward the development of the Greater Bay Area, enabling Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to leverage their respective strengths in serving the country’s needs and contributing together to the country’s high-quality development.
The functions of “Cross-boundary Health Record” and “Personal Folder” in the eHealth mobile application have been extended to the two dental institutions in Shenzhen under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme, which covers all medical institutions under the Pilot Scheme, as well as the Hong Kong University – Shenzhen Hospital, enhancing the continuity of medical care for Hong Kong citizens through facilitating their secure and convenient use of electronic health records across the boundary.
The legal departments of the Guangdong Province, the HKSAR and the Macao SAR officially released the consolidated Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Mediator Panel 2024 online. This initiative implements the measure in the Action Plan on the Construction of Rule of Law in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area released earlier by the Department of Justice, and effectively promotes the interface of mediation regulatory frameworks of the three places and a wider use of mediation in the Greater Bay Area, thereby further enhancing the multifaceted dispute resolution mechanism in the Greater Bay Area.
