SCIO briefing on the outline development plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 1, 2019
Mi Jian:
Earlier I was introducing Macao's role in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and I mentioned a "corridor" of international technological innovation linking Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao that is envisioned in the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It makes us proud that Macao is seen as an important link of the corridor.
Macao's situation may not be able to compare to what was described by Mr. Lin and Mr. Zhang. However, the city is home to four State key laboratories and this is something special among the city clusters in the Pearl River Delta, especially in the cities along the western banks of the river. Now, the Macao Special Administrative Region government is seeking to enhance cooperation with other cities in the Greater Bay Area via the four laboratories, and exploring cooperation plans.
The Macao SAR government has placed the project in a very important position. Last year, it established a working committee for the construction of the Greater Bay Area. This year we have created a special task force for technological innovation and smart city development, which will be responsible for a series of technological innovation programs to be carried out in the future.
The development of technological innovation carriers and platforms will be accelerated, including the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao, located in the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai, and the platform for development of TCM science and technology industrial park.
Investment in the higher education sector has been taking up a sizable portion of Macao's entire GDP. In recent years, the SAR government has invested heavily in both higher education and scientific research, and it plans to increase input to help higher education institutions and research facilities to actively participate in the development of the Greater Bay Area.
Macao now plans to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the China Association for Science and Technology. By utilizing the technological strengths of the mainland will enable Macao to fulfill its historic responsibility of constituting the envisioned international technological innovation corridor in the Greater Bay Area.
My answer to the reporter's question is that it is in line with the trend of the times for the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to make international scientific and technological innovation a core aspect. We may say that the Outline Development Plan reflects a deep insight of the global trend. Everyone can see from the recent changes of the world that future socioeconomic development cannot do without the development of science and technology. Only through continued efforts in scientific and technological innovation can our country realize fast growth in manufacturing and the real economy and present a stronger image on the global stage.
Thank You.
Radio Television Hong Kong:
I would like to know how you plan to ease the pressure on Hong Kong and Macao in the process of integration while developing the Greater Bay Area, and what measures will be taken to ensure Hong Kong and Macao residents participate in the development of the Greater Bay Area without concerns? Thank you.
Luo Wen:
Thank you for your question. General Secretary Xi stressed the importance of formulating and improving policies and measures to make it more convenient for Hong Kong and Macao residents to pursue career development on the Chinese mainland, and develop "one-hour living circles." This is the very response to the people's expectations and their pressing need. These measures will continue to address people's growing needs for a better life.
There is a special chapter in the development plan regarding development of a quality circle for living, working and traveling in the Greater Bay Area. It calls for active construction of the "one-hour living circle." In this regard, we will adopt three specific measures:
The first is infrastructure construction. We will promote establishment of an infrastructural network with a rational layout, comprehensive functions, smooth connections and efficient operations, so as to achieve an average one-hour commuting between the major cities in the Greater Bay Area.
The second is customs clearance facilitation. We will continuously raise the level of convenience in the use of the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao residents through the means of digitalization and informatization. We will increase the number of automatic clearance channels for inbound and outbound travelers at major land control points, so as to achieve 24-hour customs clearance at more ports. We will also enhance collaboration between Mainland customs authorities and those of Hong Kong and Macao to further enhance efficiency of cross-border logistics.
The third is about public services. We will enhance the dovetailing of cross-boundary public services and social security, and facilitate reductions and even removal in long-distance and roaming charges for mobile phones in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. We will also enable eligible children of Hong Kong and Macao residents to enjoy the same rights as Mainland residents regarding compulsory education and senior secondary education, and improve the linkage mechanism for emergency medical rescue services to provide residents in the Greater Bay Area with timely, efficient and convenient public services.
Mi Jian:
I understand the point of your question from the Macao perspective. First, there is a need to face the increasingly open trend of the times. No city can progress if it closes itself off, and we have to deal with some pressure from this process. In recent years, Hong Kong and Macao have seen the entry of large numbers of tourists. I noticed that Macao was full of people during the Spring Festival, and Hong Kong faced similar pressure; however, as I have often discussed with young people, the reason why Macao is where it is today is that it is an open and international city. The same applies to Hong Kong. Therefore, we must mentally prepare ourselves for the pressure brought by the flow of people with development of the Greater Bay Area. However, that does not mean we will do nothing about it and let it continue unchecked. This must be avoided, and requires the wisdom of government departments. It is also necessary for the three places to cooperate. However, all in all, it is a trend that we must face. Thank you.
Xi Yanchun:
The development plan aims to enable the people of the three regions to live a better life. It will also take into account the needs of the three places in various aspects.
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