Too Much Integration Could Be Bad: Michael Tien

A local deputy to the National People's Congress, Michael Tien, warned on Thursday that it won't be plain sailing as Hong Kong starts its integration into the Greater Bay Area and some sectors may be better left untouched.

Speaking after attending a symposium in Hong Kong on the development plans, Tien said it will be tricky to iron out some of the differences between the SAR and the 10 other bay area cities.

Tien, who is also a Roundtable lawmaker, said he thinks it will be good for Hong Kong to integrate further with the mainland in some areas. But he said there are some domains, such as law enforcement and medical services, where too much integration could be problematic.

"In terms of economic integration, there will not be a lot of resistance to it. Although, whether everything can be truly two-way, I believe is a challenge for Hong Kong," Tien said.

"Just think about it. If we were to further develop medical penetration in the Pearl River Delta area, we would have to send doctors up there. We don't even have enough doctors ourselves."

Tien said officials should listen to the views of the public and act prudently when dealing with such thorny issues.