Political heavyweights vowed to boost technology and innovation ties between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangzhou’s Nansha district, signing a smart city and digital economy pact at a forum on Thursday.
The agreement, sealed at the 2024 Hong Kong-Nansha Sci-tech and Industrial Cooperation and Exchange Event, aims to expand investment and research collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
In opening remarks, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong noted that according to the 2024 Global Innovation Index, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou technology cluster has maintained its global second-place ranking for five consecutive years, “demonstrating GBA’s unlimited potential for technological innovation”.
“As key innovation drivers within the Bay Area, Hong Kong and Guangzhou’s collaboration will enhance the region’s competitive advantages in technology industries, contributing to the country’s goal of technological self-reliance and high-quality development,” Sun added.
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Duncan Chiu, a Hong Kong lawmaker representing the technology and innovation functional constituency, highlighted Nansha’s dual advantages of space and location.
“With 803 square kilometers of territory, Nansha provides ample room for advanced manufacturing, universities, and research facilities,” he noted.
Chiu cited several successful collaborations, including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Nansha campus and recent medical partnerships between Sun Yat-sen University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical School.
“Over 10,000 Hong Kong residents now call Nansha home,” Chiu noted, pointing to a growing business presence with Hong Kong banks establishing local branches and training centers.
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The tech veteran advocated for complementary development between the two regions. “Nansha’s complete industrial system and Guangdong’s vast market perfectly complement Hong Kong’s international character and professional services,” he said.
The Nansha district, an hour’s drive north of the Hong Kong SAR, is positioning itself as the GBA’s new advanced industrial hub.
Liu Wei, secretary of the Nansha district, said Nansha has drawn over 3,400 enterprises from the Hong Kong and Macao SARs over four decades, with Hong Kong firms making up 95 percent of these investments.
The district has secured $14.6 billion in Hong Kong and Macao capital while offering tax incentives that have saved SAR residents more than 80 million yuan ($11 million), Liu added.
