Hong Kong – FS meets with young Hong Kong entrepreneurs in Guangzhou and attends forum of first Pearl River International Trade Forum (with photos)

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, met with Hong Kong young people who started their businesses in the Mainland in Guangzhou today (October 15), and attended a forum of the first Pearl River International Trade Forum.
   
     Mr Chan first met and exchanged views with young Hong Kong entrepreneurs of the Guangzhou Hongkong and Macau Youth Association and youth entrepreneurial teams of the start-up service platform Gungho Space in the morning to learn more about their start-up experience and work and life in the Mainland, as well as the challenges they faced and the support they needed in starting businesses in the Mainland.
 
    During the meeting with young entrepreneurs, Mr Chan said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government encourages Hong Kong young people to explore opportunities in taking up employment and starting businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to expand their options and room for career development, while the Mainland government authorities have also been supportive by rolling out a number of facilitating policies and initiatives. He encouraged young people to grasp the precious opportunity and said that the HKSAR Government will provide them with support and assistance.
 
     At noon, Mr Chan and others attended a luncheon hosted by the Executive Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr Zhang Yong.
 
     Mr Chan attended the Forum on International Trade & Cooperation of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of the first Pearl River International Trade Forum in the afternoon. In his opening remarks, Mr Chan said that the National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in enhancing its status as an international financial, trade and transportation centre and an international aviation hub, as well as promoting service industries for high-end and high value-added development. The Plan mentions the need to improve Hong Kong and Macao’s integration into the overall development of the country, deepen pan-Pearl River Delta co-operation and promote high-quality development of the GBA. The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area announced earlier also established Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub of the GBA.
 
     He said, “Hong Kong will proactively integrate into the overall development of the country and achieve co‑ordinated development with fellow cities in the GBA under the ‘dual circulation’ development strategy of the country, which will drive trade, aviation and logistics industries to the next level and develop the region into an international first-class bay area and a world-class city cluster. While serving the country, this will also sustain Hong Kong’s economic development.”
 
     Mr Chan concluded his visit to Guangzhou and returned to Hong Kong after the forum.