This aerial photo taken on Nov 27, 2023 shows builders working on Lingdingyang bridge of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan link in south China's Guangdong province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Hong Kong youth’s recognition of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has reached new heights, with 66 percent of interviewees expressing their willingness to develop in the area, and 67 percent either “agreeing” or “strongly agreeing” with the development plan of the GBA, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

The percentage of youths’ recognition of the development plan of GBA was nearly twice as high as the response in 2021, and marked a record high for the tracking index which launched in 2018.

The survey also provide three suggestions for the city’s youngsters, encouraging them to learn more and engage deeper with the mainland during their studies 

The survey was conducted by Hong Kong Guangdong Youth Association and other three organizations, which successfully interviewed 1,000 Hong Kong youths aged 15 to 39 and 530 Hong Kong youths residing in Guangdong province from September to October 2023. The goal of the survey was to take the pulse of youths’ views on the development of the GBA.

READ MORE: GBA cities attract growing number of professionals

Among the interviewees who have plans for further study, more than 70 percent of intend to go to the Chinese mainland. Among those who are studying in Guangdong, 42 percent indicated a desire to return to the SAR within five years. The survey organizer believed that it shows that Hong Kong residents have a high potential to work and study between the two places.

Adam Kwok Kai-fai, founder and executive chairman of the association, said that in view of the shortage of talents and labor in Hong Kong in recent years, the government should adopt multi-pronged approaches, and start attracting students with potential to the SAR to pursue further studies as early as possible, as well as encouraging those who have finished their studies in Hong Kong to stay, so as to provide talents for the city’s transformation  into “eight centers” – eight key areas set out by the nation for the city in its 14th Five-Year Plan. 

Kwok said he hopes that these proposals would help develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education, and attract more mainland and international students. 

The survey also provide three suggestions for the city’s youngsters, encouraging them to learn more and engage deeper with the mainland during their studies; find the most suitable platform for themselves; and integrate their personal dreams into the development of the country and Hong Kong.

READ MORE: Initiatives proposed to improve GBA's business climate 

A PhD student from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine also shared his personal experience of studying and starting a business on the mainland. He said that studying on the mainland can help Hong Kong students become more familiar with the cultures of each place, as well as the national development guidelines and policies, giving them the upper hand in pursing their own careers.  

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com