Lawmakers call for stronger GBA ties

Legislators emphasized the growing connection with the Greater Bay Area during their recent Legco debate on the city's five-year plan and policy address. Kingsley Wong of the Federation of Trade Unions urged policymakers to broaden the use of healthcare vouchers across more regions in the GBA, prioritizing areas with substantial Hong Kong populations. He suggested expanding coverage to include low-risk medical procedures like colonoscopy and gastroscopy while maintaining quality standards.

Thomas So, an Election Committee legislator, proposed seeking assistance from central and provincial authorities to bolster preferential policies for Hong Kong businesses operating within the GBA, aiming to enhance the city's attractiveness for foreign enterprises. Commercial sector lawmaker Jonathan Lamport backed the government's exploration of establishing an Economic and Trade Office in Kazakhstan, highlighting Kazakhstan's existing robust framework for collaboration with both mainland China and the GBA.

He contended that if Hong Kong leverages its distinct institutional strengths and professional expertise, it could forge significant synergies with the mainland to unlock a new economic and trade frontier.