Think Tank Defends Bay Area 'HK Cities' Proposal

A think-tank on Thursday defended its proposal to set up integrated Hong Kong communities across the border in the Greater Bay Area and has rejected criticism that these simply amount to housing projects.

The Business and Professionals Federation says the private developments would be known as “Hong Kong Cities”, and would be within an hour of the SAR, but would be cheaper and more spacious than housing in Hong Kong.

Vicky Davies is the Federation’s vice chairwoman and said there were clear advantages to Hong Kong from the plan.

"It’s an opportunity for Hong Kong to participate in the rapid growth in the mainland. It’s an opportunity for us to export our brands and services because there will be not just residential buildings there," Davies said.

"There will be commercial (buildings), there will be retail stores. We see professionals living there [and] working in the Bay Area. We see companies moving there."

Hong Kong's housing market is one of the world's most expensive, prompting concerns about the ability of younger people to fund a household and raise a family, and pushing some to invest in smaller properties to save money.

Government figures show that almost 700 units completed last year were "nano flats", which had an area of less than around 200 square feet. Three years ago there were just 79 such units.