Hong Kong, July 4, 2024 – The 4th International Academic Conference on Global Bay Area Development, hosted by the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies (Center for Studies of Hong Kong, Macao and Pearl River Delta) and the Division of Social Sciences at Sun Yat-sen University, was successfully held on July 2-3, 2024. Co-organizers include the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures of The Education University of Hong Kong, the Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Institute (PSEI) of Lingnan University, and the Centre for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Studies of the University of Macau.
The conference brought together more than 80 scholars and experts from China and abroad, including Tai Zhongzhi, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University; He Junzhi, Professor and Dean of the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies at Sun Yat-sen University; Wu Zhiliang, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of The Macao Foundation; Chow Man-kong, Executive Director of the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures and Associate Vice President of The Education University of Hong Kong; Ho Lok Sang, Director of PSEI; Philip Wong, Deputy Director of PSEI; Moses Gates, Vice President of the Regional Plan Association of America; and Kazuyuki Motohashi, Professor at the School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.
The opening ceremony of the conference was conducted with great splendor, hosted by Yuan Xuyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Associate Dean of the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies at Sun Yat-sen University. Prof. Tai Zhongzhi, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University and Prof. Hu Weixing, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Distinguished Professor at the University of Macau, delivered the opening addresses. The keynote speech session was expertly moderated by Prof. He Junzhi, Dean of the Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies at Sun Yat-sen University.
Yuan Xuyang (Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University) speaking at the opening ceremony
Prof. Hu Weixing (Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Distinguished Professor at the University of Macau) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference
Prof. He Junzhi (Professor and Dean, Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies, Sun Yat-sen University) hosted keynote speech.
During the conference, Prof. Moses Gates detailed New York City’s approach to addressing the impacts of climate change on urban housing demand and regional planning in his presentation titled “Growing Metropolises in the Age of Climate Change: Challenges and Ways Forward.” The specific measures he discussed included projecting future housing demand, establishing a system to assess climate change-related risks, exploring various regional planning approaches, and promoting transit-oriented development patterns.
Keynote speech by Prof Moses Gates (Vice President for Regional Plan Association of America)
In his presentation, Prof. Kazuyuki Motohashi from the School of Engineering at The University of Tokyo, investigated the impact of geographic proximity between Japanese universities and high-tech startups on knowledge spillovers. He noted that universities not only act as a fountain of knowledge within regional entrepreneurial ecosystems but also train and supply a highly skilled workforce to high-tech startups.
Keynote speech by Prof. Kazuyuki Motohashi (Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
Mr. Wu Zhiliang, President of the Administrative Board of The Macao Foundation, delivered a presentation titled “Inter-City Collaboration in the Development.” He highlighted that the key to developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area lies in integrating the market economic system of mainland cities with that of Hong Kong and Macao, and in strengthening inter-governmental connections and cooperation between Hong Kong and Macao, while leveraging Macao’s unique advantages.
Keynote speech by Mr. Wu Zhiliang (President of the Administrative Board, The Macao Foundation)
Dr. Chow Man-kong delivered a speech titled “New Quality Productivity.” He proposed that Hong Kong must cultivate high-tech talents in line with the development of new quality productivity, build up the local innovation and technology industry to dovetail with China’s modernized industrial system, and leverage investment and financing platforms as well as carbon trading platforms. Dr. Chow shared that in recent years, the Greater Bay Area has strengthened its cooperation in innovation, pooling and sharing resources in terms of capital, equipment, and talents. Hong Kong has also implemented various proactive policies to radiate its innovation impact to other cities within the GBA.
Keynote speech by Dr. Chow Man-kong (Executive Director, Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures; Associate Vice President, The Education University of Hong Kong)
At the Social Sub-forum, Prof. Ho Lok Sang, Director of the Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Institute at Lingnan University, presented on the topic of “Life, Life Education, and the Future Competitiveness of the Greater Bay Area.” He introduced the “LIFE” framework (Love, Insight, Fortitude, Engagement) for measuring life education and mental capital. Prof. Ho also discussed his application of the theory to assessing the mental well-being of corporate employees in the workplace. He suggested that strengthening “LIFE mental capital” can enhance the ability to cope with challenges and reduce the social phenomenon of “lying flat”; studies also show that increased happiness of employees contributes to significant improvement in productivity. According to survey data from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Hong Kong students have higher happiness indices and life education indices than their Shenzhen counterparts, while the mental capital of Shenzhen students is higher than that of Hong Kong. Life education can significantly reduce bullying in schools and improve happiness, and its effect in Shenzhen is stronger than that in Hong Kong. However, academic pressure can offset this effect. Statistics show that Shenzhen students are more adversely impacted by academic pressure than Hong Kong students.
In the Economic Sub-forum, Dr. Philip Wong introduced strategic methods for Hong Kong to integrate into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) through game theory analysis. He pointed out that Hong Kong should become an independent member of RCEP due to its economic autonomy, trade and negotiation advantages, strategic economic diversification, specific industry opportunities, alignment with international standards, and geopolitical considerations. An independent membership for Hong Kong would mean two seats for China, which would strengthen China’s influence and negotiating position, as well as enhance Hong Kong’s bargaining power. From a game theory perspective, a non-zero-sum strategy of reciprocal economic benefits aligns with China’s strategic pursuit of regional economic integration; Hong Kong should demonstrate its value and take the opportunity to act as a coordinator in regional economic relations.
