Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

CREATING closer and more pragmatic cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has become one of the issues most  discussed by deputies at the annual session of the city’s legislature, which will end Friday.

The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, a major cooperative platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), has entered a fresh phase of accelerated development following the release of the development plan for the zone’s Shenzhen park last August.

According to deputy Tang Hong, while significant results have been achieved in developing the Shenzhen park of the Hetao zone, it is worth noting that some challenges still remain such as an imperfect policy support system, a lack of synergy with other innovation platforms, and a gap in institutional innovation compared to the Hong Kong park.

“The government should speed up formulation of relevant regulations pertaining to the Shenzhen park as well as clarify and legalize various innovation policies through the city’s legislative power,” Tang said.

It was also suggested that the Shenzhen park could cooperate with other innovation carriers in the GBA to boost innovation, accelerate the establishment of a scientific research management system that fully aligns with that of Hong Kong and the international community, and adopt internationalized employment and social security policies.

Deputy Zhao Guangqun proposed that the city government should issue measures to support and accelerate the construction of the Shatoujiao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Tourism Consumption Cooperation Zone. Zhao also said that the Zhongying Street could offer 24-hour service.

“To enhance the travel experience of tourists, I suggest increasing the duty-free exemptions to 96,000 yuan [US$13,367] per person per year and relaxing restrictions on expats and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan entering the Zhongying Street,” Zhao said.