Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attends the Interactive Exchange Question and Answer session at the Legislative Council Complex in Hong Kong on July 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong SAR is communicating with mainland authorities to establish an emergency mechanism for joint prevention and control with the mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to strengthen the region’s ability to manage disasters, according to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.  

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung has communicated with the relevant mainland departments about this, and they have responded positively. Lee believes that a large-scale meeting will be held soon to promote collaboration, he told lawmakers during his second question and answer session at the Legislative Council on Thursday.

Lee said the mechanism needs to comply with different laws in Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong province, and will adopt flexible measures to handle emergency situations. 

Lee said that Hong Kong SAR and the mainland have already established a cross-border collaboration mechanism for disasters like fires and shipwrecks.   

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If there is a fire in Shenzhen Bay, a rescue can be carried out before notifying the government in order to buy more time and save more lives. For shipwrecks, mainland ships can also enter the SAR for assistance. He added that the Hong Kong SAR government’s rescue team can also go to mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area to give more help.

Lee added that it is very important for Hong Kong's future to promote cultural self-confidence, building the special administrative region into a center for cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world

Hong Kong SAR’s Fire Services Department is seeking the United Nation’s recognition to become a medium-sized international search and rescue team. There is plenty of room for collaboration with different GBA cities, Lee added.  

Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan said she strongly supports establishing the mechanism. She believes the Hong Kong SAR government has much to do in this area, such as establishing regular communication channels with departments in the mainland, organizing joint training and setting up a regional emergency center and a cross-border green channel for emergency supplies.   

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Also on Thursday, the Research Grants Council of HKSAR announced it would provide funds totaling HK$467 million ($60 million) to 11 research projects, one of which proposes establishing a platform in the Greater Bay Area for assessment and early warning of natural disasters, such as climate change, environmental protection and landslides, so as to alleviate hazards and safeguard lives. 

At the Q&A session, Lee also noted that Hong Kong has the potential to become a training base for legal talents from home and abroad, making good use of the city's distinctive strengths. 

Hong Kong has made great achievements in law, with a common law system in line with many countries in the world and legal talent that is recognized internationally, he added. 

He said that the Law Society of Hong Kong is actively working on training lawyers. The government also fully supports local judges’ participation in international organizations.

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Lee added that it is very important for Hong Kong's future to promote cultural self-confidence, building the special administrative region into a center for cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world. 

Lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, who represents the sports, performing arts, culture and publications sectors, hopes the government will provide impetus to cultural finance, such as relaxing the listing conditions of the cultural and creative industries and cultivating unicorn enterprises in the cultural field.  

Contact the writer at mikegu@chinadailyhk.com