Lai Ka-ying, the first Chinese astronaut from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has entered China's space station — a moment that fills Hong Kong residents with pride. Reflecting on the trajectory of Lai's life alongside the development of the nation and the SAR, and contrasting it with CK Hutchison's exit from the UK telecom market earlier this month, a picture emerges: since Hong Kong's return to China, and especially with the launch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the nation's rise, Hong Kong's progress, and Lai's personal achievements have all converged, opening broader horizons for every Hong Kong resident.

Lai Ka-ying was born in 1982. That year, China's GDP was far behind the United Kingdom's. On the eve of Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, 15-year-old Lai walked with her parents through the festively decorated streets of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, joining the crowds in merriment. At midnight, she saw police officers replacing their old badges with new ones. That year, Hong Kong's per capita GDP surpassed that of the UK.

In 2017, the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, Lai had been working in the Hong Kong Police Force for five years after receiving a doctorate in computer forensics. That year, the central government proposed formulating the Greater Bay Area plan, initiating Hong Kong's full integration into the national development strategy. By then, China had become the world's largest manufacturer, the second-largest economy and the world's top exporter.

In 2025, eight years after the Greater Bay Area was launched, Lai had already been selected as a payload specialist in China's fourth batch of astronauts and was undergoing rigorous training. Despite the challenges of the trade conflicts since 2018 and the global pandemic, the Chinese economy continued its upward trajectory. By 2025, China's manufacturing output consistently accounted for one-third of the global total, equaling the combined output of the G7 nations.

As a saying goes, "Riding the wind, I soar to the clouds." The growth of the motherland has expanded horizons for the Hong Kong SAR and its people. To seize the opportunities, Hong Kong must both maintain and sharpen its competitive edge while integrating more deeply into the country's overall development.

Without China's growth, Lai and 1.4 billion other Chinese people could only have admired astronauts like Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong from afar. Hong Kong's return to the motherland and its integration into the Greater Bay Area have made so many things possible.

What is true for Lai is also true for Hong Kong. Initially a gateway for Western technology, products and capital into the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong now has the opportunity to channel China's advanced goods, technologies and capital to the world. The choice lies in either clinging to outdated business models with limited potential or embracing the evolving global economy to break free from old constraints.

CK Hutchison Holdings recently announced the sale of its British telecom operations amid sluggish growth in Europe's economy, particularly in the digital sector. This decision to explore new investment opportunities in a changing landscape warrants careful consideration.

The UNCTAD World Investment Report 2025 reveals that of the top 20 digital companies by sales revenue, most are from the US and China, with only one from Europe. This trend is mirrored among leading information and communication technology companies.

Deeper integration into national development also means that the highly efficient operating models, enterprises, and services developed on the mainland gain greater access to the Hong Kong market. This will reduce living costs for residents and operating expenses for businesses, while breaking existing monopolies and revitalizing Hong Kong's dynamism.

Cutting-edge IT industries demand far greater economies of scale than other sectors. Today, in cloud computing alone, the internationally recognized break-even threshold can be at the billion-dollar revenue level. Only a vast single market like China's can give rise to and nurture such enterprises. By deepening integration into the unified national market, Hong Kong can tap into cutting-edge technology industries and unlock greater opportunities for its youth.

As Hong Kong integrates further into the country's development, it will inevitably face some frictions and growing pains. However, the soul of Hong Kong's Lion Rock Spirit, which refers to the SAR people's can-do attitude, has never been about fearing challenges — it is about turning challenges into opportunities and achieving win-win development.

The author is a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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