Hong Kong politicians touted the special administrative region’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” governance framework at a summit on Tuesday, highlighting its role in fostering innovation and technology among young people across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Taiwan.
The remarks were made during the opening of a high-profile summit that brought together dignitaries and nearly 400 young entrepreneurs from the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, Taiwan, and Guangdong province.
Endorsing the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in the city, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called it “an unprecedented and pioneering model”.
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“Hong Kong will continue to be a pioneer and practitioner of ‘one country, two systems’, uniting the patriotic youth forces of Hong Kong, fully leveraging the powerful institutional advantages of the policy and contributing to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” the city’s leader added.
He highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantage of “backing the motherland and connecting with the world”.
“Hong Kong possesses strong research capabilities and advanced technological foundations, attracts talent from home and abroad to develop careers, and strives to create an international high-end talent hub,” Lee said.
The city is home to five universities ranked in the world’s top 100, making it the only city in Asia with this distinction, according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings published in June.
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Lee said the Hong Kong SAR government has been promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among young people in GBA.
One example is the establishment of the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area in December last year. The alliance brings together nearly 60 institutions from innovation and entrepreneurship bases, scientific research units, and professional organizations in the GBA, providing a one-stop exchange platform for young entrepreneurs.
Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, highlighted the support for Hong Kong in the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).
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The central government’s hefty backing of Hong Kong’s role as an international shipping center offers assistance for the city’s transition toward higher value-added, high-end shipping services. These include ship-related financing, insurance, legal and registration services, Leung said.
Leung also revealed that “Hong Kong and Shenzhen are jointly developing the world’s largest new high-density technology park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area, covering an area of 4 square kilometers, aiming to provide a science and innovation platform for the new generation of technology personnel that benefits from both ‘one country’ and ‘two systems’.”
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Other high-ranking officials who attended the summit included Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR; and Lien Sheng-wen, vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party.
