Hong Kong – September 16, 2026 -- Nearly 300 government officials, consuls general and business leaders convened in Hong Kong for a conference positioning the city as the primary financial and innovation gateway linking the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to global markets, ahead of two major APEC meetings the region will host later this year.
Hong Kong to host APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in October, Shenzhen to hold Leaders' Meeting in November
Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a video address that the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November — a first for the GBA — while Hong Kong separately hosts the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in October. Lee said the city's deep, liquid capital markets and professional talent pool have made it Asia's premier hub for fundraising, asset management and risk management.
Hetao Science and Technology Cooperation Zone targets commercialization of mainland manufacturing and Hong Kong research
Lee identified the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone as central to converting research into commercial products by combining Hong Kong's academic base with mainland manufacturing capacity. He also cited the "one town, five elements" framework for the Northern Metropolis University Town Area, integrating education, technology, talent, industry and urban development.
Leung Chun-ying links new Hong Kong-Nansha data and healthcare initiatives to Greater Bay Area integration
Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said recent collaborative initiatives in data and healthcare between Hong Kong and Nansha in Guangzhou demonstrate Hong Kong's function as a connector between the GBA and international markets. He called for expanded government-to-business and business-to-business interaction between Hong Kong and Guangdong, adding that GBA momentum will extend benefits to other Asia-Pacific economies.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan frames GBA partnerships as a multiplier for cross-border capital reach
Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po described the GBA as the country's most internationally connected region, presenting a value proposition for Asia-Pacific collaboration built on partnership rather than simple aggregation of strengths. Panel discussions at the conference covered Hong Kong's financial opportunities amid shifting Asia-Pacific trade dynamics, aerospace development synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and AI-driven transformation of education and talent development for the regional market.
China Daily's Qu Yingpu confirms Hong Kong's first five-year plan will publish September 16
Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said Hong Kong's first five-year plan is scheduled for release on Sept 16, framing it as part of the city's transition from stability to sustained economic growth. The event, co-organized by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition, was themed "New Dynamics in Asia-Pacific Cooperation, New Opportunities for GBA Connectivity."