Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (left) meets with Secretary of the Communist Party of China Guizhou Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Guizhou Provincial People's Congress Xu Lin (right) during the 2023 Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation Chief Executives Joint Conference in Guiyang on July 6, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong will strive to launch a cross-border data flow pilot program in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area later this year, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed on Friday.

Speaking at the 2023 Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation Chief Executives Joint Conference in Guiyang, Lee said the Hong Kong government is discussing the arrangement with mainland departments.

He also emphasized Hong Kong’s contribution to the GBA’s development of big data and pledged to further turn Hong Kong into a smart city in the future, including promoting open data and the expansion of 5G Networks.

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Lee encouraged Pan-PRD companies to fully utilize Hong Kong’s booming market and explore overseas markets. He invited business leaders within the GBA to visit Hong Kong and learn more about the city’s developments.

(From left) Director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip;  Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung; member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the Guizhou CPC Provincial Committee Lu Yongzheng; Chief Executive of the HKSAR John Lee Ka-chiu; and Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong, listen to the introduction of the development of the data center during the visit to the National Big Data (Guizhou) Comprehensive Pilot Zone Communication and Experience Center in Guiyang on July 6, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Lee also said that Hong Kong is an important window for the mainland to connect with the global market.

He also noted that the SAR government has set up an Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, with the aim of assisting key enterprises from all regions, including the Pan-PRD region, to better develop in Hong Kong.

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Lee praised Guizhou province for its efforts in promoting interconnection within the Pan-PRD region, as well as in boosting industrial complementarity and common development in the fields of agriculture, tourism and culture. The province has also helped to attract foreign investment and promote foreign trade in the region, which is conducive to the development of regional integration.

Intern Mike Wong contributed to the story.