Chief Executive John Lee announced Hong Kong's first five-year plan today (Sept. 16). Lee stressed that Hong Kong will continue to deepen and strengthen collaboration with Guangdong province in key areas including innovation cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, industrial chain layout, wider application of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and building a high-level international hub for top talent as well as a quality living circle that is liveable and business-friendly.
On advancing Greater Bay Area development and promoting "hard connectivity" of infrastructure, Lee stressed the goal of building a "Greater Bay Area on rails," including pushing forward the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link and the Northern Link spur line to enhance cross-border passenger services between western and central Hong Kong and Shenzhen. A study will be conducted on the future southward extension of the Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link to strengthen the connection between the Northern Metropolis and Hong Kong International Airport.
He also stressed the need to optimise infrastructure connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, seek to extend clearance service hours at land boundary control points, and improve the convenience of passenger and cargo flows between the Greater Bay Area and the rest of the world via Hong Kong.
On enhancing border clearance efficiency, Lee stressed leveraging the advantages of the rebuilt Huanggang Port, implementing "co-location" arrangements and adopting a new "cooperative inspection, single clearance" mode. Under this new model, cross-border passengers can verify their identity once via self-service channels using "card reading" or "face scanning" to complete both sides' immigration procedures, while cross-border drivers can undergo "five-party inspection" at a "joint one-stop" lane to complete customs clearance for both sides simultaneously. The Sha Tau Kok Port will be rebuilt in a "cross-river construction" format and will adopt the same new facilitation model, with existing control points also being considered for adoption where conditions permit. The coordination mechanism for Greater Bay Area control points will be strengthened to promote information sharing, improve forecasting and management capabilities, and enhance operational efficiency.
On facilitating cross-border vehicle traffic and advancing cross-border autonomous driving, Lee said measures to facilitate cross-border vehicles (including "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" and "Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles") will continue to be optimised. Efforts will be made to promote interconnectivity of charging infrastructure to more effectively meet growing cross-border travel and commuting needs. Strategic cross-border autonomous driving demonstration projects will be proactively planned and implemented to drive large-scale and commercial development.
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