Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2020complete | Page 85

Of Water, of Land: Reimagining the “Greater Bay”
West Island School, Kao, Zoe - 13
Most of us grow up only with our families and immediate communities in sight. We get used to leaning on
those who are closest to us. Every day we seek comfort in familiar places, faces, and names. Now imagine an
opportunity to grow up in a community that is broader than a city, a province, and a country? Imagine a
point in the future where you could introduce yourself as someone not from Southern China, not from
Hong Kong or Macau, but from a place that is defined by a large body of water and the massive land that
surrounds it?
The "Greater Bay" is such a bold and exhilarating concept. To me it is like a futuristic bridge that connects
nine different provinces and cities. Not only does the region produce a significant amount of GDP and have
a whopping population, it also boasts a network of distinctive communities and promises to generate endless
possibilities. I have read that the Greater Bay Area is focusing on the importance of promoting innovation
and technology. I am also aware that the Greater Bay Area could become another globally competitive
cluster of megacities. I have seen the big advances the area has taken. I believe that with the power of all
nine different cities together, they can form a stronger bond than other traditional bay areas such as the San
Francisco Bay Area or the “Alpha++” cities such as New York City and London. While Hong Kong has a
deep financial influence on the world, Shenzhen has many tech enterprises and internet ventures such as
Tencent, DJI, Huawei, and ZTE that have been growing at an unprecedented rate. In addition, the auto
industry in Guangzhou and the appliance industries in Zhuhai and Foshan have also been fast expanding.
And let us not forget Macao’s tourism industry, which adds to the diversity. These achievements on their
own are impressive, but to achieve a truly amazing future, we must connect these industrial and commercial
centers. We need an interwoven bond that can be built by individuals like you and me, and perhaps the
Avengers as well. Yes, although fictional, the Avengers are a great example of teamwork. They are a group
of incredible individuals who together forge a new world with an unbreakable bond. But as many groups
do, the Avengers have their own problems. In Captain America, Civil War, the Avengers split up over a
clash of political views. Eventually, they solved their problems and joined together to fight a Thanos.
Together we can solve problems greater than the sum of our parts. I am not saying that if Hong Kong and
Mainland China get into an argument, they should fight with lazers and superhuman powers. That is science
fiction, after all. But individuals like you and me can still make a difference.
I first encountered the concept of the Greater Bay Area when I moved to Hong Kong with my family from
the United States four years ago. It was truly a transformative cultural revelation. Before then, I called myself
a Chinese-American. But now I am in the process of adding the "Greater Bay" to my mix of cultural
identities. A few years from now, I might return to the United States for college, but the experience of
living close to these connected megacities will have left a lasting impact on my experience of growing up.
And maybe a few more years down the road, after my college and higher education, I might even find
myself back in this region of the world. I can’t help thinking, what will the world be like in ten years? What
will Hong Kong be like in ten years? And what will the Greater Bay Area as a whole be like in ten years?
The concept is so bold that there is no limit to reimagining a common future that is built around it.
Let us try to reimagine this future here. I see many opportunities, but I also see some problems and
challenges. One important issue is the population of these dense cities. In Hong Kong alone, there are more
than 1,800 street sleepers. In the entire Greater Bay Area, there are a lot of people in need of our help.
While economic growth is the imperative of local governments, what can we do as societies to help people
who are in need? I believe this is where non-government organizations should come in. Although
governments can do a lot for the people in the region, cities such as Hong Kong do lean on the work of
individuals, communities, and groups. These NGOs become more important when local governments
disagree on how to handle vital issues. For instance, Hong Kong’s economy benefits from low tax rates, free
trade, and less government interference; but the Chinese economy, on the other hand, is more centrally
planned. Disagreements can also happen in other areas. Hongkongers are in the process of cementing their