Mr. Leung Chun Ying, convener of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), visited UIC on 17th February and gave a lecture to over 200 students and staff on the topic "Integration of the Hong Kong Economy with the Pearl River Delta Region".
UIC President Prof. Ng Ching Fai, Executive Vice President Prof. Kwok Siu Tong, Vice President Prof. Zhang Cong and Associate Vice President Dr. Wendy Chan attended this lecture. President Ng gave a welcoming speech and hoped that Mr. Leung could continue to give support to UIC.
During the lecture, Mr. Leung talked about the concepts of Pearl River Delta Region (RPD), Pan Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta. He emphasized the importance of the economic integration between Hong Kong and PRD. Mr. Leung stated that Hong Kong has extensive cooperation with PRD, including public services, transportation, environment, trading and finance. If the cooperation is strengthened, PRD will have the potential to develop into a very strong economic region in Asia. In the meantime, Hong Kong is working hard with the Mainland to consolidate its role as an international financial centre.
Mr. Leung used navigation as an example to show how both Hong Kong and the Mainland benefited from each other. He stated that the Mainland is benefited because Hong Kong's sound legal system and platform of communication and quality services based on a common English speaking environment. At the same time, Hong Kong is also benefited because the cooperation with the Mainland will better equip itself.
Mr. Leung used Shenzhen as a further example to illustrate how the Mainland benefited from the regional cooperation with Hong Kong. He said Shenzhen's development in the past 30 years cannot be separated from Hong Kong's help. Economic activities between Hong Kong and Shenzhen have become more frequent since the Mainland decided to reform and open its market. This helped many industries to grow, such as trading, manufacturing, finance, etc.
There was a question and answer section during the lecture. Mr. Leung was asked for his opinion about the effects of Qianhai's development on Hong Kong's status of being an international financial centre. Mr. Leung replied that Qianhai is a place which is developed by Hong Kong and Shenzhen together. Its development will only enhance the economic integration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It is not easy to overtake Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre because Hong Kong had a long history of that already.
One student also asked Mr. Leung whether it was true that he planned to run in the election for the next Chief Executive of HKSAR, Mr. Leung said, "I will do my best to serve my country and people, no matter which position I am in."
Mr. Leung is the convener of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and a member of the National Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He has been a member of the Executive Council since 1997 and became the convener of it on 1st July, 1997. The Hong Kong government awarded him the Gold Bauhinia Star in 1999.
The lecture was hosted by the Research Office and cooperated by the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Reporter: Huang Shanqing, Yu Zizheng
Translator: Wong Man Hon
Photos: Chen Mengxing, Huang Zhixia, Wang Jinping
Editor: Cheryl Chen, Richard Xu
MPRO News
