Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2020 | Page 22
Non-Fiction – Group 3
Future Adventures of the Greater
Bay Area
Korean International School, Tsu, Lok Yee Xylia – 12
The postmodern world is not only continually urbanising to fast-growing metropolitan
regions and cities but also multiple neighbouring areas with integrated functionalities and
connections. The emergence of these vast regions ignites interdependence plans that increase the
possibility of facilities and firms to be established in them. Regional associations are significant
and advantageous in the development of businesses. On that note, the Chinese government
revealed on 18th February 2019 a blueprint announcing plans to create the Greater Bay Area
(GBA), a ‘Mega Region’ to enhance technology and business along with with Macau, Hong
Kong as well other nine cities in Guangdong Province (Chen and Chen). The completion of
the GBA would be China’s representative in global industrial competitions as well as providing
internal opportunities in economic transformations. Therefore, the strategic construction of the
larger Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area would substantially offer new levels of
development due to its adoption of a Megalopolis concept based on its relevant features such as
its natural conditions and good geographical location (Xuejun et al. 724). Besides its proximity,
the Mega Region calls for new regional-scale operations, governance, investment, and planning.
Consequently, this study justifies the thesis that the management, diversification of industrial
sectors, proximity, and innovation capability in the Greater Bay Area propels a new economic
growth in China, although it faces multiple challenges.
The Greater Bay Area’s (GBA) governance provides plans of action and vivid structures
that could enhance the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The GBA concept was commenced through The Action Plan for the Bay Area of the Pearl
River Estuary, a study jointly developed in 2011 by Pearl River Delta, Macau, and Hong
Kong governments. In March 2016 the 13th Five-Year Plan was endorsed, and the city
cluster ideology was expanded in Southern China. Afterwards, in 2017 President Xi
Jinping witnessed the preparation geared towards the signing of a framework agreement
on constructing the GBA. The document titled as The Framework of Agreement on Deepening
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Greater Bay Area was signed
collectively by the Macau and Hong Kong Chief Executives, and the Head of the National
Development and Reform Commission. Through joint governance, the GBA initiative
elicited a prioritised and top national policy aimed at constructing a universally leading
megacity. The new area has a considerably large size and population in comparison to
other previously developed bay areas. By illustration, the Greater Bay Area has the highest
population of sixty-nine million, five hundred thousand people compared to the Tokyo
Bay Area with forty-four million people, New York city twenty-million, and San Francisco
Bay Area seven million (Chen and Chen). Besides, GBA boasts of fifty-five thousand square
kilometres, the largest land size amongst other bay areas.
Further, overseas and domestic Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) could thrive
in GBA. Markets on bonds have significantly indulged in the construction of infrastructure
in GBA. For instance, the Guangdong government-supported over five hundred of the
megacity’s projects by issuing bonds amounting fifty billion yuan (Hua). Similarly, an
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