Amid surging tides along the Xiangjiang River and brisk winds over the South China Sea. The 2026 Yangjiang Spring Reception (Hong Kong) Economic and Trade Exchange Event and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Second Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Yangjiang Community General Association were solemnly held in Hong Kong on 28 March 2026. More than 400 representatives from Hong Kong's political and business communities and leaders of social organisations gathered to renew hometown bonds, explore collaboration and pursue shared development.
Lu Yixian, Secretary of the CPC Yangjiang Municipal Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Yangjiang Municipal People's Congress, attended and delivered a speech. Yang Wenlong, Chairman of the CPPCC Yangjiang Municipal Committee, was also present. Wang Guangfei, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yangjiang Municipal Committee, Secretary-General and Director of the United Front Work Department, presided over the ceremony.
Distinguished guests in attendance included: Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Wong Tin-wai, Principal Representative (South China) of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Legislative Council Members Chan Hang-pan, Ho Jun-yin, Lam Chun-sing, Li Ka-ching, Ho King-hong, Fong Kwok-shan and Cheung Pui-kong; Hu Qiming, Deputy Director of the Community Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Guo Changyong, Deputy Director of the Kowloon Work Department; Zhu Yihua, Deputy Director of the New Territories Work Department; Zheng Bin, Coordination Division Chief of the Hong Kong Island Work Department; Lin Yidan, Level II Inspector of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee; Gong Junlong, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the Hong Kong Guangdong Community General Association; Wong Joon-hong, President of the Hong Kong Guangzhou Community General Association, and Zhang Guangjun, its Chairman; Liao Yiman, Chairman of the Hong Kong Guangdong Youth Association; and Lu Kam-yam, Chief President of the Federation of Hong Kong District Industrial and Commercial Associations.
Lu Yixian: Invites Entrepreneurs to Become Yangjiang's "City Partners"
On behalf of the CPC Yangjiang Municipal Committee and the Yangjiang Municipal People's Government, Lu Yixian extended a warm welcome to all leaders and guests present, and expressed sincere gratitude to people from all sectors who have long cared for and supported Yangjiang's development. He noted that Yangjiang and Hong Kong enjoy close geographical proximity, strong kinship ties and close business connections. Hong Kong has for many consecutive years been Yangjiang's largest source of foreign investment and a vital cooperative partner. To date, more than 500 Hong Kong-invested enterprises operate in Yangjiang, accounting for more than half of the city's foreign-funded enterprises.
Last November, Yangjiang signed a cooperation agreement with the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and jointly launched the nation's first carbon footprint standard accredited by both international and European Union authorities. It also established an Offshore Wind Power Joint Research Centre with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, conducting full-chain innovation covering basic research, technological breakthroughs and industrial transformation.
Lu Yixian stressed that underpinned by solid foundations and distinctive strengths, Hong Kong-Yangjiang cooperation has entered an unprecedented period of strategic opportunity. At present, Yangjiang is accelerating its integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, striving to build a green energy capital and a renowned maritime Silk Road city, and working to achieve a new leap in its comprehensive strength.
The Government of the Hong Kong SAR is advancing the formulation of its first Five-Year Plan, proactively aligning with national development strategies. As "integration" evolves into "integrating into and serving the overall national development", Hong Kong-Yangjiang cooperation has been given a clearer direction and broader scope.
He stated that Yangjiang would embrace partners with the utmost sincerity, optimal services and the finest business environment, joining hands with Hong Kong to build a highland for green energy innovation and achieve win-win cooperation across more sectors, including green intelligent computing, marine ranching, commercial aerospace and cultural tourism.He sincerely invited all sectors in Hong Kong to organise business delegations to inspect and invest in Yangjiang, jointly draw a "concentric circle" for Hong Kong-Yangjiang cooperation and become Yangjiang's "city partners".
Deepening Industrial Synergy for a New Chapter of Greater Bay Area Development
In her address, Alice Mak expressed hope that the Hong Kong Yangjiang Community General Association would continue to advance industrial cooperation between the two regions, enabling Hong Kong to fully leverage its strengths in financial and professional services and assist Yangjiang enterprises in exploring international markets. She also hoped the association would organise more exchange and study tours, allowing Hong Kong youth to experience national development and achievements firsthand, and strengthen their sense of national identity and belonging.
Wong Tin-wai of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council noted that the council hosts more than 40 professional exhibitions and international conferences in Hong Kong each year, providing a platform for Yangjiang enterprises to connect with global buyers and expand international business. Leveraging its network of 51 overseas offices, the HKTDC will also coordinate with various stakeholders to support Hong Kong's service sector in delivering integrated, comprehensive support for the international operations of Yangjiang enterprises.
Ho King-hong remarked that Yangjiang boasts exceptional geographical advantages and robust development momentum, with highly complementary industries and deep-rooted cooperation foundations between Hong Kong and Yangjiang. He looked forward to deeper interconnection, enhanced resource integration and industrial synergy to materialise more cooperative projects and jointly open a new era of bilateral development. Wang Bingdong, Chief Representative of China Resources Group in Guangdong, and Li Yan, Vice President of Business Development at Golden Eagle Enterprise Management (China) Co., Ltd., shared their successful experiences of investment and operations in Yangjiang.
Zheng Weizhen, Vice Mayor of Yangjiang, delivered a special presentation on Yangjiang's investment environment and cultural tourism industry at the event. During the ceremony, the Yangjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports signed cooperation agreements with the Hong Kong Cultural Tourism Association and relevant travel agencies to deepen collaboration in the tourism sector. Latest figures show that Yangjiang received nearly 300,000 tourists from Hong Kong and Macao last year, representing an increase of more than 50 per cent year on year, following a doubling of arrivals in the previous year.
The Inauguration Ceremony of the Second Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Yangjiang Community General Association was held concurrently. Fung Kuen-hoi, Chairman of the Association, presented the work report of the First Board of Directors, and Ngai Yan-hong was elected President of the new term.
Fung Kuen-hoi stated that over the past decade, the Association has organised numerous visits and matchmaking activities for Hong Kong's industrial, commercial and professional sectors to Yangjiang, promoting the city's positioning as a "green energy capital and renowned maritime Silk Road city", supporting hometown investment promotion and talent attraction, and facilitating two-way flows of projects, capital and talent.
Ngai Yan-hong pledged that, as the newly elected President, he would lead the Association to fully serve as a bridging link and actively connect resources between Hong Kong and Yangjiang.On the one hand, it will assist the hometown in conducting investment promotion in Hong Kong, bringing Yangjiang's quality products, projects and opportunities to Hong Kong's business community. On the other hand, it will organise Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs and fellow villagers to conduct investment visits to their hometown, supporting Yangjiang's high-quality development while injecting new impetus into Hong Kong's economic prosperity.
( Report: Xu Hong Shuai Cheng; Photo: Xu Hong)
Comment