Guangdong in bay space connectivity pledge amid ‘new regular’ of Hongkongers heading north – Cyber Tech

Zhang Hu, Guangdong Communist Social gathering Standing Committee member and govt vice-governor, mentioned on Tuesday that the bay space’s financial prowess had steadily grown over the previous 5 years as cooperation with Hong Kong and Macau deepened.

“The potential and momentum for high-quality growth have been launched, thus demonstrating the institutional benefit and liveliness of the ‘one nation, two methods’ association,” Zhang mentioned, referring to the precept beneath which Hong Kong and Macau are ruled.

He described the bay space – Beijing’s bold plan to remodel Hong Kong, Macau and 9 Guangdong cities into an built-in hi-tech, financial powerhouse by 2035 – as an “necessary political mission on the high of provincial priorities”.

“Hongkongers heading north has change into a scorching development. In 2023, Hong Kong residents made round 53 million journeys to mainland China. This has change into a brand new regular,” he informed a briefing as a part of a seven-day “Alternatives within the Better Bay Space” media tour.

Zhang mentioned the whole financial output of the bay space had elevated from 10.8 trillion yuan in 2018 to greater than 14 trillion yuan final yr. It amounted to one-ninth of the nation’s complete financial output whereas the realm took up lower than 0.6 per cent of its land.

He revealed that the provincial authorities would deal with boosting the event of 5G expertise, built-in circuits, nanotechnology and biomedicine within the space as its 4 main industries. It could additionally develop into rising industries, from life sciences to supplies, to introduce new financial momentum to the realm.

In addition to fostering new industries within the envisioned tech hub, Guangdong authorities would additionally work on enhancing connectivity between mainland cities, Hong Kong and Macau, from transport infrastructure to skilled recognition.

The vice-governor mentioned 3,950 professionals from Hong Kong and Macau had gained {qualifications} recognised on the mainland. Amongst them had been 420 legal professionals from Hong Kong and Macau who had handed the Better Bay Space authorized skilled examination.

As a part of the media tour, Lionel Ni Ming-shuan, president of Hong Kong College of Science and Know-how’s Guangzhou department, mentioned at its Nansha campus that the establishment would look to spice up alternate alternatives for college students on either side of the border.

“We hope our college students in Hong Kong can come to our Guangzhou campus for alternate for some time to expertise particular alternatives on the mainland, in addition to our laboratories,” Ni mentioned.

He added the voluntary scheme can be reciprocal for college students in Guangzhou, with collaborating college students from each campuses capable of take programs from each establishments.

Having obtained approval from the provincial training authorities in 2022, the Guangdong department started admitting undergraduates final yr, with 140 college students from throughout the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and abroad admitted in its first cohort.

Ni mentioned the establishment hoped to confess as much as 1,000 undergraduates yearly, with 500 to be admitted subsequent yr. The college aimed to confess 300 mainland undergraduates and a minimum of 30 Hong Kong, Macau and abroad college students this yr, he mentioned.

Whereas the 2 campuses would preserve shut communication for educational alternate and analysis, Ni mentioned, the Nansha campus would distinguish itself from its Hong Kong counterpart with its interdisciplinary focus, which he added can be tough to attain within the unique campus as a consequence of established educating practices.