Life of Guangzhou - Hong Kong - Shenzhen Metropolis Proposed

Hong Kong

Shenzhen

A THINK tank in Hong Kong said Thursday the special administrative region should work on greater integration with Shenzhen to build a metropolis in the Pearl River Delta region, the South China Morning Post said.

In a study report, the Bauhinia Foundation urged the Hong Kong SAR Government to consider the idea of creating what it called a “Hong Kong-Shenzhen metropolis.”

To build such a consortium, the foundation said the two neighboring cities should further boost the flow of residents, resources, goods and services, as well as information and capital between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The group said a Hong Kong-Shenzhen convergence had the potential to develop itself into China’s first world-class metropolis. It had the potential to overtake other rivals on the mainland.

The report compares a metropolitan Hong Kong-Shenzhen to New York, Tokyo and London.

The pro-government think tank proposes 10 ways for building such a consortium. These include enhancing transport means between the two cities, replanning Hong Kong’s enclosed area near its border, deepening financial cooperation and allowing Shenzhen residents easier access to Hong Kong.

The foundation said that in compiling the eight-month study, it had garnered views from 100 government officials, academics and industry representatives. It had also sought the views of 50 Hong Kong enterprises, 100 Shenzhen enterprises and 1,000 Shenzhen citizens.

“Cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen can radiate Hong Kong’s influence to other parts of the mainland, and Shenzhen can ‘go international’ via Hong Kong,” it said.