The leading group for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area held its first plenary meeting on Aug 15. Vice-Premier Han Zheng is the head of the leading group, with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Macao Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Femando Chui Sai-on as members.

This is the first time that the chief executives of the two SARs have been included into central policy-making bodies, which shows that the central government is paying great attention to Hong Kong and Macao's role in the Greater Bay Area.

Vice-Premier Han Zheng said at the meeting that the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area must fully utilize the advantages of the "one country, two systems" principle and fully leverage the comprehensive advantages of Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao, in order to build a globally competitive greater bay area and world-class city cluster.

The launch of the leading group's first plenary meeting indicates the development of the Great Bay Area's construction has entered a new phase. The leading group is to establish a coordination and communication mechanism for all the parties in the Greater Bay Area, which will accelerate its progress, and it is expected that relevant planning will be launched soon.