Hong Kong leader highlights GBA opportunities at global investment conference
Hong Kong's chief executive addressed the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Global Investment Conference, emphasising the region's economic potential and Hong Kong's role as a super-connector. The speech outlined plans for infrastructure connectivity, cooperation platforms, and the Nor
Hong Kong's chief executive addressed the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Global Investment Conference on 3 November, highlighting the region's economic significance and Hong Kong's strategic role. The conference, jointly organised by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the fifth consecutive year, showcased development opportunities to global investors.
The Greater Bay Area, occupying less than 0.6 per cent of China's land area, generates approximately one-ninth of the national economic output, the chief executive noted. He described the GBA as a strategic pillar of the country's development pattern, a demonstration zone for high-quality growth and a leader of Chinese-style modernisation.
Hong Kong published its first five-year plan in September, aligning with the national 15th five-year plan. The plan outlines how Hong Kong will complement other GBA cities under the 'one country, two systems' framework, leveraging dual advantages from national and international opportunities to build the GBA into a globally influential world-class city cluster.
The chief executive said Hong Kong is enhancing connectivity through infrastructure 'hard connectivity', regulatory and institutional 'soft connectivity', and people-to-people 'heart connectivity'. These efforts aim to facilitate the flow of people, goods, capital and data, establishing mutually beneficial regional cooperation.
Hong Kong is accelerating development of major cooperation platforms including Shenzhen's Qianhai, Guangzhou's Nansha and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Hetao area, promoting innovation and industrial chain collaboration. The Northern New Town, covering one-third of Hong Kong's area, is positioned as a key engine for GBA integration, with plans for a university city, innovation and technology, industry, and livable spaces.
The chief executive described Hong Kong as a 'super-connector' and 'super-value-adder', serving as a two-way springboard for mainland enterprises expanding overseas and foreign companies entering the GBA. A dedicated task force has assisted over 360 mainland companies in establishing or expanding operations in Hong Kong, leveraging the city's international professional services. Hong Kong will continue to attract key enterprises through incentive packages and promote the GBA story globally.