Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Greater Bay Area Conference 2025 today (October 23):
      
Honourable Vice-Chairman C Y Leung (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chief Convenor of the Hong Kong Coalition), Mr Qu Yingpu (Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
      
     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you virtually at the Greater Bay Area Conference 2025. To those visiting Hong Kong, a very warm welcome to all of you.
      
     Let me begin by congratulating China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition for co-organising this meaningful event. Your dedication to fostering dialogue and collaboration across industries has drawn professionals and industry leaders to today's event.
      
     Today's conference will help to create important momentum to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a cluster city development that brings together Hong Kong, Macao, and nine Mainland cities in Guangdong.
      
     With an area of some 56 000 square kilometres, the Greater Bay Area has a population of over 87 million. At last count, its GDP has surpassed US$ 2 trillion. In other words, this piece of land occupying under 1 per cent of our country's landmass, and inhabited by under 6 per cent of the country's population, has a GDP that closely rivals that of the world's tenth largest economy.
      
     Hong Kong is the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage. It stands as a premier gateway for co-operation, bridging people, trades, businesses, cultures and values across the region. As a core city of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong is dedicated to leveraging its advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle to promote high-quality collaborations worldwide.
      
     Hong Kong boasts a long and established tradition of the rule of law. We maintain a common law system that dovetails with most global financial hubs. Our tax system is simple, and our tax rate is as low as it is competitive. Our workforce is multi-talented, hard-working, and well-versed with the business language of both the Mainland and the world.
      
     Given the ever-changing global trade order, and our country's steadfast commitment to multilateralism, there is fast-growing demand around the globe for "Made in China" products. I see growing opportunities in helping Mainland companies go global through Hong Kong's world-class professional services.
      
     In my Policy Address last month, I announced the establishment of a task force focused on supporting Mainland enterprises in going global. This GoGlobal Task Force has already been launched earlier this month, by bringing together the overseas offices of Invest Hong Kong and the Trade Development Council, as well as Hong Kong offices on the Mainland.
      
     It is given a simple and important mandate: to assist Mainland companies in taking their businesses globally. And, through the process, create important value for both our country and Hong Kong. For a better tomorrow of us all.
      
     That tomorrow is certainly innovation-driven. The Government is expediting Hong Kong's development as an international I&T (innovation and technology) centre. We will make available land resources for the rapid development of technology and technological transformation.
      
     The Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, an area that radiates beyond our boundary with Shenzhen, officially enters its operational phase this year.
      
     We are working closely with Mainland authorities to promote the efficient cross-boundary flow of innovation elements in the Co-operation Zone on a pilot basis. With the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranking first, for the very first time, in this year's Global Innovation Index Ranking of the World's Top 100 Innovation Clusters, I am confident that our collective strength in the Greater Bay Area will boost the country's global competitiveness.
      
     On nurturing talent, I highlighted in my Policy Address that the integrated development of education, technology and talent is a foundational and strategic pillar for progress in the new era. It enables Hong Kong to build rich talent resources, knowledge reserve, and capacities for scientific and technological innovation, thereby enhancing our competitiveness.
      
     The Government is pressing ahead with efforts to build Hong Kong into an international education hub, leveraging our distinctive advantage of being home to five universities ranked among the world's top 100. We will promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, increasing the number of self-financing places for non-local students at our post-secondary institutions to 50 per cent. That, ladies and gentlemen, will create a more diverse and international student body for our education hub.
      
     Culture is our root – it connects people and enriches communities. Hong Kong thrives as an east-meets-west centre for international cultural exchange. Through extensive people-to-people ties in the region, we are building cultural bridges that connect Hong Kong with different cities across the Greater Bay Area and the rest of the world.
      
     In less than three weeks, the 15th National Games will be held. I hope all of you will take the opportunity to discover and experience Hong Kong's dynamic spirit, vibrant energy and warm hospitality. I am confident that your time here will lead to meaningful connections and lasting impressions.
      
     Ladies and gentlemen, I encourage you to share your insights on the future of the Greater Bay Area. Your perspectives are vital to shaping a more connected, innovative, and prosperous region. A better bay area for the enjoyment of a world of visitors.
      
     I wish the Conference every success and all participants a fruitful and rewarding day. Thank you.

Ends/Thursday, October 23, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:00

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