A member of China's top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), prompted Hong Kong residents, especially young people, to grasp the development opportunities provided by the economic zone of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Tam Kam-kau, a member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee and chairman of HK Kwok Kim Investment Holdings Group, made the remarks during a corridor interview on Sunday ahead of the closing meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

Tam shared his entrepreneurial experience in the Chinese mainland, recounting how he started as a driver in south China's Guangdong Province in the 1970s. He then opened a restaurant along the road between Shenzhen and Dongguan after noticing that many drivers needed meals when traveling between the two cities. Over the following 30 years, he expanded into farms, shopping malls, and factories.

He also shared the entrepreneurial story of a young person from Hong Kong, who took advantage of the beneficial policies provided by the GBA. After returning from the U.S. in 2018 upon completing his studies, the individual established a new type of farm in Dongguan that integrates green products, education, and tourism.

"The development of the country in the new era has once again provided the young people of Hong Kong with golden opportunities. I hope they can seize these opportunities firmly to achieve their dreams," said Tam.

The GBA region encompasses nine cities in Guangdong, as well as Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. These cities are situated in close proximity to one another and are connected by a vast network of transportation infrastructure, including high-speed rail, bridges, and tunnels. 

According to official data, the region had more than 86 million people as of 2022, and its economic aggregate exceeded 13 trillion yuan ($1.8 trillion) in 2022, surpassing that of South Korea and Australia and equivalent to the 10th largest economy in the world.

(Cover: Shenzhen–Zhongshan Bridge, September 17, 2023. /CFP)