The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area can expand Macao's room of growth and facilitate its diversified economy, representatives from the civil and professional groups of the special administrative region (SAR) said Saturday. 

The remarks were made at a meeting held to collect suggestions about Macao's role in the Greater Bay Area development. 

Head of Macao SAR Policy Research Office Lao Pun Lap presided the meeting, which was attended by representatives of Macao's civil and professional groups, such as the Macao Chinese Medical Association, the Macao Workers' Union, and the Women's General Association of Macao. 

Map of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area /CGTN Photo

The representatives said that with all the opportunities brought by the development of the Greater Bay Area, there also come challenges for Macao to tackle, such as the implementation of big data in social services, cross-border sharing of medical and nursing service, and environment protection cooperation.

This is the first meeting held by the SAR government to collect suggestions from civil society after it started a mass campaign on Tuesday to receive ideas and suggestions from Macao people, who are encouraged to share their views on how to improve Macao's role in the Greater Bay Area development. 

The Greater Bay Area will include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and nine cities in south China's Guangdong Province, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhongshan, Foshan, Zhaoqing and Jiangmen. 

(Source: Xinhua)