Joint projects between Shenzhen and Hong Kong are expected to make breakthroughs this year in technological innovation, financial cooperation and construction of cross-boundary infrastructure.

The governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen established a task force in March to speed up joint development of a 99-hectare border zone known as the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

The joint task force agreed that meetings will be held every six months to discuss planning and development of the zone, which lies between the boundaries of the two cities.

Officials also agreed that greater effort should be made to ensure progress and liaison on studies concerning development of the loop and its checkpoints - Liantang in Shenzhen and Heung Yuen Wai in Hong Kong.

The task force decided that a study should begin this year to explore the feasibility of developing the loop for mutual benefit. Funding for the study will be shared between the two governments.

"Through this high-level mechanism and establishment of the joint task force and its working groups, the efficiency of the work on the loop and the control point will be enhanced," said Liu Yingli, executive vice-mayor of Shenzhen.

"This will contribute to sustaining the competitiveness of urban development on both sides and to promote prosperity for mutual benefit," Liu said.

HK model

After identifying Hong Kong as a role model last year, a top Shenzhen advisory body suggested that the local government study laws and consultation processes in Hong Kong to improve the mainland city's legal environment.

It was one of 12 suggestions submitted by a subcommittee of the Shenzhen Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC Shenzhen) to promote cooperation between the two cities.

The proposal is listed as the most important advice given to the administration at the annual meeting of CPPCC Shenzhen that started in early April.

The subcommittee formulated the final proposal after more than two months of extensive studies and over 10 symposiums, further highlighting the importance of Shenzhen-Hong Kong collaboration, Zhong Zhiqian, chief of the subcommittee, told reporters.

"The city should solicit support from Guangdong province and the central government to make Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation part of national strategic planning," according to the proposal.

It asked the government to learn from Hong Kong and establish a system similar to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for a clean and efficient administration.

In addition, Shenzhen should learn from Hong Kong's emphasis on innovation and intellectual property protection, the subcommittee remarked.

The subcommittee also suggested Shenzhen make better use of its independent legislative power as a special economic zone to promote greater participation by the public in government decisions.

Enhancement on cooperation

In order to facilitate the flow of people and commerce between the two cities, the subcommittee suggested enhancement of border infrastructure. It also suggested that the governments of Shenzhen and Hong Kong develop industries with a competitive edge and encourage companies in the two cities to forge industrial alliances.

At the same time, the two governments should actively promote official, semi-official or non-governmental systems to better plan the development of the industries, the subcommittee recommended.

Other measures advocated include access to each other's educational resources and the funding of talent exchange programs.

Shenzhen and Hong Kong have been closer than ever after both governments pledged tighter cooperation last year.

The Shenzhen government said in a statement that it plans to become a cosmopolitan metropolis in 30 years through close ties with Hong Kong.

Evidence shows that Shenzhen is an increasingly worthy partner for its powerhouse neighbor Hong Kong.

After advocating closer integration with Hong Kong for years, the Shenzhen government finally received positive feedback from the special administrative government of Hong Kong, with Chief Executive Donald Tsang saying in his policy address last October that the territory will promote the development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong international metropolis.

"We have visited several government departments of Hong Kong, including the planning and environmental protection agencies, to strengthen communication and seek further common ground on Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation before making revisions to our long-term urban plan," Shenzhen planning chief Wang Peng told reporters.

Blueprint

The city released its urban planning draft 2007-20 last November for a month of public comment, outlining major goals:

Taking a firm foothold in the Pearl River Delta region and strengthening cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to jointly build a world-class metropolitan area

Improving cooperation on financial systems

Building a Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation rim by enhancing cooperation and exchanges in research and development, innovation and the management and protection of intellectual property

Upgrading cooperation with Hong Kong in the hi-tech and high-end service industries.

Improving border crossings and transportation

Mutually improving the ecology of the region

Combined metropolis

According to a study by the Bauhinia Foundation Research Center, a Hong Kong non-governmental think tank, a Shenzhen-Hong Kong international metropolis could outperform London and Paris in gross domestic product to become the world's third-largest city, after New York and Tokyo, by 2020.

"It will be an innovative move for the two neighboring cities, with a population of 8 million and 10 million respectively, to seek mutual development while maintaining independent governance," Zhang Yuge, a senior researcher with the China Development Institute, a Shenzhen-based non-governmental institute, said.

"The combined metropolis will have more impact on the mainland's economy while playing a more significant role in global markets. That's a win-win situation."

Despite the different political systems under the "one country, two systems" policy, the two cities could improve infrastructure, trade and business relations and build smoother communication between governments and non-government organizations, he proposed.

"It provides a good opportunity for Shenzhen, the weaker partner in the cooperation, to learn advanced management and experience from Hong Kong. Ultimately people won't have the feeling they are in another city after crossing the border," he said.

(China Daily 05/08/2008 page7)