Ventures Dialogue

International companies, including those in Canada, engaging in the field of architecture, planning and engineering, as well as general public, are invited to submit their innovative ideas and concepts for the design and construction of the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB).

At the launching ceremony on the commencement of detailed ground investigation works for the HKBCF of the HZMB held recently, Secretary for Transport and Housing of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Ms Eva Cheng, said the HKBCF was a very important part of the HZMB’s construction works within Hong Kong territory – it will fit in with the Hong Kong Link Road, Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link and Tuen Mun Western Bypass to form a strategic road network, which would further enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international transportation and aviation hub.

To cope with the schedule of the HZMB project and allow detailed design of the HKBCF to begin next year, a design ideas competition was launched.  Interested parties are invited to submit their innovative designs to either the Professional Group or the Open Group. 

Headed by renowned architect Mr Richard Hawkins of Foster + Partners, the jury comprises six other professionals and celebrities from the Mainland China, Hong Kong and overseas. The jury will assess the entries based on five criteria, which are:  innovation and creativity; aesthetics and identity/icon; environmental friendliness; functionality, effectiveness and buildability; and harmony with the neighbourhood.

The competition is now open for entries.  Closing date for registration is February 8, 2010. 

Details of the competition are available on the website.  The winning list will be announced in May 2010 and the winning design ideas will be the reference for the future detailed design of the HKBCF.

Discussions are underway about developing a special cooperative region between Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau thus creating a Hong Kong-Guangdong-Macau Special Cooperative Region for economic integration.

The Guangdong Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department, Guangdong Development Research Centre, and Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, among others, have come together to study the integration of the three areas.  Content, feasibility, advantages and disadvantages, impact on the state and neighboring areas, possible problems and formulation of counteracting strategies, and implementation of procedures are all being studied.  The Pearl River Delta, an area within this region has been struggling in recent years and officials are eager as they hope this will economic growth by raising its comparative advantage over other regions.

Advisors have pointed out that under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), one of the best ways to encourage cooperation is by addressing specific issues.  For instance, allowing the free trading of stocks, securities and futures with this region has been suggested.

Shenzhen, a city within Guangdong, became a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1979 and it has since developed into the second busiest port city in China, and ranking among the top in GDP per capita.  Shenzhen also has its own stock exchange, the ninth tallest building in the world (Shun Hing Square), and six land crossings to Hong Kong.  SEZs have special tax incentives for foreign trade and investment.   If anything were to happen, a trial period would be first step as the political, economic, culture and laws of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau are vastly different.  Eighty per cent of Hong Kong’s economy is dominated by the service sector with finance, transportation and tourism.  Macau is known for its casinos, but manufacturing, financial services and real estate also plays a key role in its economy.  Also noted is that while Hong Kong traditionally uses the British system, Macau follows Portuguese rule of law.