Xie Xiaohua: Continue building the "Greater Bay Area on Rails"; the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Railway and Northern Link spur line projects are being advanced at full speed.

In her speech on 8 October at the Legislative Council meeting during the joint debate on the motion on the "First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong" and the motion of thanks on the "Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address" (Session 4: Deepening the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Building a Global Cooperation Network), Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Xie Xiaohua said that Hong Kong's development over the next five years will inevitably be closely tied to the Greater Bay Area in which it is situated. Xie Xiaohua mentioned that the Government will continue to build the "Greater Bay Area on Rails"; as stated in the Policy Address, the authorities are advancing the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Railway and the Northern Link spur line projects at full speed. Xie Xiaohua said that Hong Kong's development blueprint and market scale are no longer confined to the small area within the SAR, but are based on the three overlapping spaces of "the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the nation as a whole, and the international market", resonating in unison. The First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong includes a dedicated chapter on the Greater Bay Area, clearly stating that Hong Kong will participate in building the Greater Bay Area into a world-class bay area and world-class city cluster with global influence, and will implement the strategic positioning of the Greater Bay Area as "one point, two places". It sets out five key directions that are consistent with the policies proposed in the Policy Address, translating the plan into action. First, strengthen cooperation in technological innovation. Many Members support the SAR's coordinated development with the Bay Area, building the Greater Bay Area's innovation and technology ecosystem and industrial chain, and deepening the two-way integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain. The "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" global innovation cluster has ranked first for two consecutive years, fully demonstrating the deep strength of the Greater Bay Area's coordinated development. In building the Northern Metropolis, the SAR Government will guide the market toward I&T fields that align with Hong Kong's vision, with the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone as the focus, and strengthen strategic alignment with other Greater Bay Area cities. For example, the Policy Address states that through the "Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform", the synergistic effect of Hetao's "one zone, two parks" and "one institute, one centre" will be leveraged to promote demonstrative multi-centre clinical trials and more. Second, advance "hard connectivity" of infrastructure. The authorities will continue to build the "Greater Bay Area on Rails"; as stated in the Policy Address, we are advancing the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Railway and the Northern Link spur line projects at full speed. Deepen "soft connectivity" through rule alignment and mechanism docking. Many Members suggested strengthening cooperation on rule alignment. On the premise that all parties have their own rules and different legal systems, rule alignment and flexible coordination can facilitate the cross-boundary flow of factors such as data and expand development space for all parties. Hong Kong can combine international rules with the needs of the Greater Bay Area to help form competitive "Bay Area standards" and contribute to the Bay Area's high-quality development. The SAR Government will establish a "Task Force on Accelerating Rule Alignment and Mechanism Docking among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao", coordinated by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, to actively study using Shenzhen as a pilot platform and, as circumstances permit, gradually optimise and extend it to more Greater Bay Area cities. Many Members spoke on achieving "heart connectivity" among residents of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Xie Xiaohua mentioned that the Government will continue to encourage young people to seize Greater Bay Area opportunities, strengthen cross-boundary medical collaboration and optimise the interface for cross-boundary elderly care services, and build a cultural Bay Area. It will also continue to expand the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong in Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area and study extending services under the "Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme for Elderly Health Care Vouchers"; the authorities will also support national sports associations in participating in the organisation of Greater Bay Area leagues and other "multi-stop" tourism work. Fifth, advance the development of major cooperation platforms in the Greater Bay Area. Many Members support us, including supporting the Qianhai Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in playing a pioneering role, and Nansha in playing its role as a high-level gateway for opening up, and encouraging the industry to develop in Hengqin. For example, HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited) will further use HKEX Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. located in Qianhai to strengthen fintech support for its Qianhai Mercantile Exchange. HKIC (Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited) will also continue to promote the establishment of start-up high-tech enterprises in Nansha and strengthen the building of cross-boundary industrial chains. The Hong Kong SAR Government will also continue to maintain close contact with relevant central ministries and commissions, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Macao SAR Government to enhance a higher level of connectivity among Greater Bay Area cities. Xie Xiaohua also mentioned that at the 20th ASIA FINANCIAL Forum in January next year, a dedicated GBA DEV session will be held for the first time, inviting overseas, Greater Bay Area and local enterprises and financial leaders as speakers, and inviting representatives from Guangdong Province and Macao to attend. This will not only increase business and economic leaders' understanding of GBA DEV, but also build a platform for them to explore cooperation opportunities with Greater Bay Area enterprises. The Hong Kong SAR Government will serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" between the Mainland and global markets, continue to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as a "four centres and one", and go all out to seize the opportunities of the Greater Bay Area.