Pro-democracy Panel Heads To Join Greater Bay Trip

Three prominent pro-democracy lawmakers said on Friday that they will join a delegation to Guangdong in April to study the development of the newly dubbed Greater Bay Area.

Wu Chi-wai, Charles Mok and Kenneth Leung chair three of the four Legco panels taking part in the three-day visit to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan and Zhongshan.

They plan to invite at least four top government officials to join them.

Mok said he hopes the trip will show legislators how Hong Kong firms can benefit from the bay plan.

“We are particularly interested in finding out the realities of the development in the bay area, the central government’s or the Guangdong government’s policies,” he said.

“And then we can further decide how we can in future cooperate or even compete with these companies and institutions up there.”

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Jeffrey Lam, who chairs the fourth panel involved – economic development – said they plan to meet city leaders and visit businesses and infrastructure projects.

He said he doesn't think mainland officials will turn any of the pan-democratic legislators away.