Media

Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) have collaborated intensively and effectively since China’s economic reform in the late 1970s. However, the once-successful market-driven economic cooperation model of ‘Front Shop, Back Factory’ encountered severe challenges in the face of the PRD’s rapidly rising economic power and Hong Kong’s declining role as its bridge to the world in the last two decades. Of the traditional Four Key Industries, namely financial services, tourism, trading and logistics, and professional and producer services, only financial services and professional services are the industries that Hong Kong still has an edge in addition to new high-tech industry that is rapidly developing in the PRD.

An interdisciplinary research team at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) recently conducted a firm-based survey and interviews of high-tech firms in the PRD. The findings revealed the barriers in the PRD in using Hong Kong’s high-tech innovation and manpower and producer services, and shed light on the way forward if Hong Kong is to play a role as an innovation hub for high-tech development in the Greater Bay Area.

The research team is led by Chair Professor Anthony Yeh of the Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning and Department of Urban Planning and Design together with Professor Tao Zhigang of the Faculty of Business and Economics and Institute for China & Global Development, Chair Professor George Lin of the Department of Geography, Dr. Xingjian Liu of the Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning and Department of Urban Planning and Design of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Dr. Fiona Yang of the School of Geography and Planning of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou.  

Professor Yeh and Professor Lin will explain the survey findings and the research team’s suggestions to overcome the barriers.

Details of the media conference are as follows:

Date: November 18, 2021 (Thursday)
Time: 11am
Venue: Room 829, 8 Fl. Knowles Building, HKU

Media enquiries:
Communication and Public Affairs Office:
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)
Ms Rashida Suffiad (Tel: 2857 8555 / Email: rsuffiad@hku.hk)