The Greater Bay Area is a big stage for Hong Kong youth (Bay Area Watch)
The "Hong Kong Youth Greater Bay Area Development Index 2023" recently released by the Hong Kong and Guangdong Youth Federation shows that nearly 70% of the Hong Kong youth surveyed "agree" or "strongly agree" with the Greater Bay Area development plan, compared with 35% in 2021 It has nearly doubled, setting a new high since the tracking index was established in 2017; at the same time, nearly 70% of Hong Kong youth are willing to go to mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area for development, a significant increase from 41% in 2021, and also a new high.
In just a few years, Hong Kong youth’s willingness to study, start a business and live in mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area has increased significantly. Their understanding of the development status and prospects of the Greater Bay Area has increased, and their confidence has grown. This shows that the construction achievements of the Greater Bay Area have been supported by Hong Kong youth. Recognition also means that they have the opportunity to stand on a broader development stage.
Hong Kong youth’s confidence and recognition of the Greater Bay Area has its origins. One of the sources is the speed of construction of the Greater Bay Area. The "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" was released in 2019, proposing to build the Greater Bay Area into a vibrant world-class city cluster, an international science and technology innovation center, an important support for the "Belt and Road" construction, and a demonstration area for in-depth cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao. , a high-quality living circle that is suitable for living, working and traveling, and a model of high-quality development... These beautiful visions that once seemed far away have now begun to take shape on many levels.
Large-scale infrastructure facilities such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor, and the Huangmao Sea Cross-sea Channel have laid a solid foundation for "hard connectivity", including "Hong Kong cars going north", "Macao cars going north", "one-stop customs clearance", "cooperative inspection and one-time release". ", Shenzhen-Hong Kong bus and subway "one-code smooth travel", etc. have contributed to "soft connectivity", and the "one-hour living circle" in the Greater Bay Area has become a reality. In major cooperation platforms such as Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, and Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, new systems and new rules adapted to local conditions are opening up policy "blocking points" and promoting the integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. development, thousands of Hong Kong and Macao enterprises have settled in it, new business forms and new opportunities are constantly emerging, and talents from Hong Kong and Macao have settled down and taken root... The construction results that are obvious to all verify the scientific nature of the blueprint.
The successful experiences of people around me entering the Greater Bay Area have conveyed confidence to Hong Kong youth. A young Hong Kong entrepreneur resolutely chose to develop in the mainland because he "speaks better English than Mandarin." Later, the facial recognition products he developed in cooperation with the mainland technology team have been widely used in Shenzhen's Luohu, Huanggang and other ports. It has successfully entered the US and Japanese markets; some Hong Kong youth have established an incubator at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Dream Factory in Qianhai, which has attracted 40 companies to settle in in the past two years, 80% of which are enterprises founded by Hong Kong youth; some Hong Kong youth have established technology in Shenzhen Research and development company, established a production company in Dongguan, traveling to Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Hong Kong every day, and said, "Three days a day, it used to be a torment, but now it is very convenient"... Each vivid case is an example and demonstration, very convincing .
The diverse mainland exchange, internship, and employment programs provide Hong Kong youth with more opportunities to understand the Greater Bay Area in depth, and understanding can increase trust and resolve doubts. Last year, the SAR government provided more than 4,000 internship positions and more than 30,000 exchange places for Hong Kong youth, allowing them to use their summer vacation to visit and exchange in mainland cities. Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area also hold a considerable number of related activities every year, attracting young people from Hong Kong and Macao to come and take a look. Many young Hong Kong people have seen the mainland's advantages in digitalization and other aspects, and have personally experienced the mainland's development speed. They have a deeper understanding of the complementary advantages of the mainland and Hong Kong and the huge market potential of the Greater Bay Area.
The continuous introduction of preferential policies and convenient measures has given Hong Kong youth more courage and confidence to pursue their dreams in the Greater Bay Area. From the "Implementation Rules for Supporting Hong Kong and Macao Youth to Find Employment and Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area", which covers the whole province of Guangdong, to the relevant measures introduced by the mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, they provide Hong Kong youth with internships, employment, and entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area. It provides a variety of subsidies, business loans, tax incentives, free talent apartments, rent-free offices and factories, etc. Some places have also set up a "Greater Bay Area Workplace Mentorship Program" to allow Hong Kong and Macao people with more than three years of work experience in the Greater Bay Area to serve as "workplace mentors" to help Hong Kong and Macao youths better integrate into the mainland. The meticulous services are very considerate.
"I used to say that I am a Hong Konger, but now I would rather say that I am a Bay Area person." said a young Hong Kong person who has worked in the Greater Bay Area for many years. Indeed, the Greater Bay Area is a big stage for young people from Hong Kong and Macao, and it is also their home. The construction of homes requires the participation of young people, and they can take advantage of the development of the Greater Bay Area to fly higher. (Wang Ping, People’s Daily Overseas Edition)