John Lee calls Hong Kong a Greater Bay Area ‘promoter’ as city signs new deal

Hong Kong has signed a deal with a mainland Chinese trade promotion body to foster cross-border investment and development, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu describing the city as a “promoter” of the Greater Bay Area.

Speaking at a business conference on Wednesday, Hong Kong’s leader also said the city should utilise its professional services and collaborate with Macau and its counterparts on the mainland to boost the international competitiveness of the bay area’s port cluster.

During the event, Hong Kong deputy justice minister Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan and Zhang Shaogang, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cross-border trade and investment, in addition to supporting the mainland’s legal development.

“[Hong Kong] is an active participant, promoter and beneficiary of the development of the Greater Bay Area,” Lee said.

“We will make good use of Hong Kong’s professional maritime services and work with the mainland and Macau to enhance the international competitiveness of the Greater Bay Area port cluster.”

Chief Executive John Lee has been working on developing sea-air intermodal cargo transshipment with Dongguan, which will allow mainland cargo to be shipped to Hong Kong for direct flight export. Photo: Handout

The bay area refers to Beijing’s ambitious drive to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong province into an economic powerhouse by 2035.