HK Free To Decide How To Implement GBA Plan: Nip

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Patrick Nip, on Saturday sought to allay fears about Hong Kong’s autonomy under recently announced plans for the Greater Bay Area – saying the SAR will be free to decide how to implement the blueprint.

The blueprint sets out details for a technology-driven economic powerhouse centred on Guangdong province to rival the likes of Silicon Valley.

The plans identify Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen as “core engines” for development in the region.

Nip said the plan gives Hong Kong people more choice – by diversifying the SAR economy, making room for innovation, and also offering local citizens more living space.

But he said more thought needs to be put into how to make the implementation of the Greater Bay Area blueprint smooth, as currently systems and policies in the mainland and Hong Kong differ. He stressed however that this should all happen under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, which gives the city an advantage.

Nip also explained that a proposal to transfer non-emergency patients for cross-border treatment is meant to make things more convenient for Hong Kong people planning to live or work in the bay area. But, he added, local medical needs would remain the priority.