Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2020complete | Page 22

The Prospect of the Greater Bay Area
Diocesan Girls' Junior School, Leung, Sin Yu - 10
Introduction of the Greater Bay Area
Greater Bay Area, also known as Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area or GBA, is a city
cluster consisting nine cities (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen,
Huizhou, and Zhaoqing) and two special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). Although it is
only 1% of China’s territory, Greater Bay Area covers 56,000 square kilometres, which is the biggest in the
four bay areas— Greater Bay Area itself, Tokyo Bay Area, New York Metropolitan Area and San Francisco
Bay Area. Also, having 5% of China’s population, which means 70 million people, Greater Bay Area also
has the most population out of the four, also meaning that it has more population than the whole of Canada
or United Kingdom. But don’t think that’s all! Greater Bay Area also has the best airport and port strength,
best educational strength, second in science and technology strength out of the four bay areas.
Positive and Negative Effects of the Greater Bay Area
Once you hear “Greater Bay Area”, you would probably think about business. But before you boost any
business, we first need to find a job. Of course, we can find any job that suits ourselves in the Greater Bay
Area. Now, let’s learn about the opportunities for businessmen. They will get a bigger market in mainland,
and companies can also attract more investment. The Greater Bay Area will also bring technologies and
knowledge. For example, Shenzhen is known for its technology. Hong Kong may have some expertise
exchanges with places like Shenzhen with new technology and this will definitely help to improve the
technology level of local products.
If you are not a businessman, don’t think Greater Bay Area isn’t useful for you. We can live in the cities
of Greater Bay Area because the price of the properties there are lower. The Financial Secretary of Hong
Kong, Paul Chan Mo-po has also said that this may solve Hong Kong’s housing problem.
But while everyone focuses on the benefits, others have spotted out some harm. They say that it may be a
loss for Hong Kong as talented people in Hong Kong will move to these cities. But others suggest that
attractive policies can help to stop any loss of talented people.
The Future of Greater Bay Area
But after all of this introduction, what will the Greater Bay Area be like in the future? Based on its total
area of 56,000 square kilometres, population of 7 million and its GDP in 2017 to be US $1.58 trillion, I
believe that not far from now, the Greater Bay Area would probably be filled with the newest and best
technology. Loads of talented people with different talents from all around the world would probably gather
together in this place. It would be a place full of wonders and very attractive. Businessmen would soon find
out that this place is perfect for them to start their business—full of opportunities, the rent is low, all the
cutting-edge technology… Their products can get bigger markets and work with companies or
businessmen from different parts of the world that are gathered in the Greater Bay Area! Besides, they can
easily work with companies in Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. Also, their products can be sold in
the whole area, probably with a bit of help from all the professionals from different categories found in the
Greater Bay Area.
In terms of normal citizens living in this area, they would probably seek academic in Dongguan, a place
mainly for education and research, or job in Zhongshan, a place mainly for manufacturing as there are
various institution and job opportunities that suit them. They can also rent or buy houses in mainland as
there is more land in mainland. Therefore, the houses there are bigger but cheaper. But the bad thing is, if
everyone lives in mainland, the price of houses would also rise like Hong Kong, so there would be the same
housing problems in mainland and Hong Kong.
A lot of places are being built in this area to help it grow—such as Qianhaiwan in Shenzhen. It is a place
that has already been partially built. The North is for business activities, including some operations for Hong
Kong banks. There will also be many logistical activities. Actually, the plan was to replicate some of the
advantages of Hong Kong. Another example is Binhaiwan in Dongguan. The government is trying to start
a first-class university here, just like Stanford University in Silcon Valley. It will possibly be called Greater
Bay University. It will also host an “international technology innovation cooperation zone” and aims at
becoming the “industrial core of Dongguan”.