In-depth collaboration in Bay Area urged

Deputies to the nation's top legislature called for extensive and in-depth collaboration among the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - as the 11-city cluster offers unprecedented development opportunities.

The three National People's Congress deputies, from Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions respectively, made the call at the "Deputies Passage" at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday before the second session of the 13th NPC started at 9 am.

Lin Shaochun, executive vice-governor of Guangdong, said that the advanced expertise and rich experience of the two SARs in city management, market operations and investment and trade facilitation provided a good example to Guangdong in order to boost its development.

The two SARs can take advantage of the massive market opportunities in Guangdong to expand their business and trade, Lin added.

He also revealed that policies to enhance cross-boundary elderly care, medical insurance and recognition of professional qualifications are expected for residents of the two SARs.

Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's sole member of the NPC Standing Committee, suggested regional governments within the Bay Area study and launch more measures to encourage Hong Kong people to work or run businesses on the mainland.

Tam elaborated that these measures could include deductions in tax and transport fees, and less restriction on property transactions and personal financial matters.

He also called for integrated information platforms to help young people from the SAR settle and work on the mainland. Tam also hopes more Hong Kong-standard facilities, such as hospitals, could be established to offer high-quality healthcare services in the Bay Area.

These measures will attract more Hong Kong people to seek development opportunities in the Bay Area, Tam explained.

Macao NPC deputy Kou Hoi-in, also president of Directors Board of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, said Macao would actively participate in the Bay Area development. It could seize opportunities by integrating itself into the nation's overall development.

Kou said he would collect views from various sectors of Macao to make proposals related to Bay Area development.

The Bay Area comprises nine cities in Guangdong and the two SARs. The central government unveiled the development outline of the region on Feb 18, aiming to turn the region into an international bay area to rival the world's top city clusters in San Francisco, New York and Tokyo.

The "Deputies Passage" is a media briefing session for NPC deputies to answer questions at the middle of a passage to the meeting rooms during the two sessions. Similar sessions, including those for ministers of the central government and members of the nation's top political advisory body - the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - will be held throughout the two-session meetings.

bingcun@chinadailyhk.com