1. development Plan of Guangdong-HK-Macau Greater Bay Area
August 2017

2. Background
Pearl River Delta, Greater Pearl River Delta, Pearl River Delta Ring, Pan Pearl River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area
2004: “Co-ordinated Development Plan of the Pearl River Delta Townships ( )”
2008: “Development Outline of the Pearl River Delta”
2009: “Planning Study on the Co-ordinated Development of the Greater Pearl River Delta Townships”
“One Bay with Three Metropolitan Areas”: “One Bay” refers to the Pearl River estuary. “Three Metropolitan Areas” are Guangzhou-Foshan, Hong Kong-Shenzhen, and Macao-Zhuhai
2010: “Key Action Plan for Liveable Bay Area of the Pearl River Estuary”
2016: “Guiding Opinions of the State Council on Deepening Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation”
2016: “Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for Guangdong Province”, “Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development”
2017: Report on the Work of the Central Government

3. Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for Guangdong Province (excerpt)
Develop an important economic belt with the Guangdong- HK-Macao Greater Bay Area as the spearhead… to make the Pan-Pearl River Delta a national pioneer area for reform and opening-up, an important engine of national economic development, the core area for in-depth cooperation among Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland, a major area in building the Belt and Road, and a pioneering ecological and sustainable development area.

4. Outline of the National 13th Five-Year Plan (Excerpt)
Support Hong Kong’s participation in the country’s two-way opening-up and the Belt and Road initiative; encourage Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau enterprises to make use of their respective advantages and expand the market through multiple means; increase the openness of the Mainland towards Hong Kong and Macau, and push for an upgrade of CEPA for Hong Kong and Macau. Deepen cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong financial markets, and accelerate the connectedness of the two markets. Deepen exchanges among the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau in areas such as society, livelihood, culture, education and environment protection; support cooperation in technology and entrepreneurship. Support development of a quality living area in the Greater Pearl River Delta; and speed up the establishment of cooperation platforms in Qianhai, Nansha, and Hengqin. Support Hong Kong and Macau to play significant roles in the regional cooperation, and promote development of major cooperation platforms for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay and across provincial borders.

5. 2017 Report on the Work of the Central Government (Excerpt)
We shall continue our holistic and accurate implementation of “One Country Two Systems”, “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong”, “Macau people ruling Macau”, with high degree of autonomy, stringently abiding the constitution and the Basic Law in our efforts, and ensure “One Country Two Systems” in Hong Kong and Macau maintains unshaken, untainted, and unchanged. We fully support Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Region Chief Executives and Governments to govern in accordance with the law, develop the economy, improve livelihood, promote democracy, and maintain social harmony. “Hong Kong independence” is a dead end. We need to promote deeper cooperation between the Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau, formulate a Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macau Greater Bay Area City Cluster Development Plan, make use of Hong Kong and Macau’s unique advantages, and elevate their roles and functions in the country’s economic development and efforts of opening up to the outside world. We remain confident that Hong Kong and Macau will maintain long-term peace and prosperity. -- Premier Li Keqiang

6. 9 prefecture-level cities: Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen 2 special administrative regions: Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR

7. GDP and GDP per capita of prefecture-level cities in the Guangdong-HK-Macau Greater Bay Area in 2015 (GDP per capita calculated by resident population at the end of the year)
Special Administrative Regions/ cities
GDP
Of the whole province
GDP Per Capita
2015
Ranking by GDP
(million dollars in local currency: RMB, HKD, MOP)
(million USD)
Proportion of GDP (%)
Ranking by GDP per capita
(local currency: RMB, HKD, MOP)
(USD)
Per Capita proportion (%)
End of Year
population
Total
1,340,452
20,255
66,180,400
Hong Kong 1
2,313,200
296,564 2
316,635
40,594
7,306,000
Guangzhou
1,810,041
290,611
24.86 4
134,066
21,525
200
13,501,100
Shenzhen 3
1,750,299
281,019
24.04
162,382
26,071
242
10,778,900
Foshan
800,392
128,507
10.99 6
107,716
17,294
160
7,430,600
Dongguan 5
627,506
100,749
8.62 8
75,213
12,076
112
8,343,100
Huizhou
314,003
50,415
4.31 9
66,433
10,666 99
4,726,600
Zhongshan 7
301,003
48,327
4.13
93,782
15,057
140
3,209,600
Macau
353,230
44,154
551,000
68,875
643,000
Jiangmen
224,002
35,965
3.08 10
49,563
7,958 74
4,591,500
Zhuhai
202,498
32,512
2.78
125,448
20,141
187
1,614,200
Zhaoqing 11
197,001
31,629
2.71
48,813
7,837 73
4,035,800

8. The Greater Bay Area when compared with other bay area city clusters
San Francisco Bay Area
Tokyo Bay/ Tokyo Major Metropolitan Area
Greater Bay Area
Range
9 counties
Major cities: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland
1 Metropolis, 3 Prefectures
Tokyo + Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa Prefectures
9 prefecture-level cities + 2 Special Administrative Regions
Area (km2)
17,384
13,562
56,000
Population
7.68 Million
37.8 Million
66.18 Million (resident)
GDP (2015)
0.8 Trillion USD
1.8 Trillion USD
1.3 Trillion USD
GDP per capita
104,166 USD
47,619 USD
20,255 USD

9. Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area (Signed on 1st July 2017)

10. Aims of Cooperation: Guangdong
Strengthen Guangdong’s role as the pioneering area of the country’s effort in reform and opening up and an important engine of national economic development
Build a technological and industrial innovation centre, an advanced manufacturing base, and a modern service industry base.

11. Aims of Cooperation: Hong Kong
Support Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as the international finance, shipping, and trade hub
Strengthen Hong Kong’s status as the global offshore Renminbi business hub and international asset management centre
Promote the development of high-end and high value- adding businesses in finance, business, trade, logistics, and professional services
Support Hong Kong in facilitating innovation and technology development, nurturing new industries
Support Hong Kong in building Asia-Pacific international law and arbitration service centre

12. Aims of Cooperation: Macau
Assist Macau in becoming a global tourism and leisure centre
Create a platform for business cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries
Construct a base of multicultural exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture at the core
Facilitate appropriate, diverse, and sustainable development of Macau’s economy

13. Principles of Cooperation
Guided by openness, driven by innovation
Achieving a win-win situation through complementary cooperation
Led by the market, driven by the government
adopt “the early and pilot implementation” approach and make breakthroughs in key areas
Prioritise ecology and pursue green development

14. Key Cooperation Areas Promote infrastructure connectivity
HK-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-HK Express Rail Link, New Guangdong-Macao Link
Enhance the level of market integration
CEPA and cooperation agreements between individual cities
Build a global technology and innovation hub
Build a modern system of industries through coordinated development
Jointly build a quality living circle to provide an ideal place for living, working and travelling
Cultivate new strengths in international cooperation
Belt and Road initiative
Support establishment of major cooperation platforms
Qianhai of Shenzhen, Nansha of Guangzhou, and Hengqin of Zhuhai… etc.

15. Greater Bay Area Development Highlights
Major industries of focus: finance, transport and shipping, business services, professional services, technological services
Including dimensions such as society, livelihood, culture, education, and environmental protection
Cities with different characteristics: Guangzhou as the provincial capital, Shenzhen as a technology hub, Hong Kong as an international hub, Macau as a gateway to Portuguese culture
Areas of cooperation: infrastructure construction, recognition of professional qualifications, opening of markets, cooperation in technological development

16. Savantas and Sun Yat-sen University’s joint research project
Based on the current status of integration within the Greater Bay Area, explore how the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong can further reduce institutional and policy hindrances under CEPA and the free trade zones , facilitate two-way flow of resources, achieve economic upgrade together, enhance economic competitiveness and competitive advantages, and support the development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative
Aiming to propose vision of development and policy proposals regarding the Greater Bay Area development plan to the National Development and Reform Commission for their consideration within this year
Research partner:
Research team led by Prof Mao Yan-hua from Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies, Sun Yat-sen University

17. Focus of Study
How to overcome the various hindrances between HKSAR and other cities in the Greater Bay Area under “One Country Two Systems”, so as to facilitate two-way free flow of human resources, goods, information and capital?
How to facilitate the development of free trade zones so that small and medium-sized enterprises may benefit?
In terms of market access, how to ensure measures for open market access are thorough and unhindered in their implementation?
How to decide on the positioning and division of labor among Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area for the various industries? (e.g. container ships vs cruises)
How to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s position as a hub of international finance, shipping and trade? How to strengthen and use Hong Kong’s unique advantages?