Hong Kong outlines five priorities for Greater Bay Area integration under new five-year plan
Hong Kong's top official for constitutional and mainland affairs outlined five priorities for the city's participation in the Greater Bay Area, including tech innovation, infrastructure, rule harmonisation, people-to-people ties and major platforms, under the new five-year plan.
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delivered a keynote speech at the GoGBA Greater Bay Area Development Day on 29 October 2026, outlining Hong Kong's strategy under the national 15th Five-Year Plan and the city's first five-year plan.
The official said Hong Kong's development blueprint now spans three overlapping spaces: the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the nation as a whole, and the international market. He stressed that Hong Kong must leverage the unique advantages of "one country, two systems" to precisely position itself within national development and global competition.
Five priority directions were announced for Hong Kong's participation in the Greater Bay Area. First, strengthening technological innovation cooperation to build a bay area innovation and technology ecosystem, with the Northern Territory and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen tech zone as key anchors. Second, advancing infrastructure "hard connectivity" through projects such as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Express Rail Link and the Northern Ring Line branch, as well as 6G network construction.
Third, deepening rule harmonisation and mechanism alignment through a new task force led by a deputy solicitor general, promoting mutual recognition of professional qualifications and the "Bay Area Standard" and "Bay Area Certification" schemes. Fourth, achieving "heart connectivity" among residents, focusing on youth opportunities, cross-border elderly care, medical collaboration and cultural exchange. Fifth, advancing major cooperation platforms including Qianhai, Nansha and Hengqin.
The official highlighted the Northern Territory as a key engine for Greater Bay Area development, with plans for a university city to attract talent and drive innovation. He also announced two major events for 2027: a Greater Bay Area development session at the 20th Asian Financial Forum in January and another at the Hong Kong International Tech and Innovation Expo in April.
Hong Kong aims to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", attracting overseas enterprises and talent to use the city as a gateway to the Greater Bay Area market while supporting bay area companies in accessing international markets through Hong Kong's professional services.
