Bay Area vision beckons HK youth

Public discussions in Hong Kong about matters concerning the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster have heated up noticeably since the central government authorities unveiled the outline development plan for the Bay Area last month. Since the Bay Area is projected to become a new innovation and technology hub and regional economic growth engine, a lot of emphasis is on attracting young people with new knowledge to work in the nine cities in Guangdong instead of Hong Kong and Macao only.

Although it is a bit too early to talk about career opportunities in the Bay Area at this point, those thinking about pursuing careers in Guangdong should start preparing for the day by arming themselves with practical knowledge as well as occupational skills.

Hong Kong residents who have been following the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing must have noticed the great importance that State leaders, Guangdong provincial government as well as NPC deputies and CPPCC members from Hong Kong and Macao attach to the Bay Area city cluster development. It is not surprising at all because the Bay Area city cluster is an integral part of the national development strategy for the next 30 years or so alongside the Belt and Road Initiative. The latter is already well underway, which means Bay Area development will no doubt shift into a higher gear soon.

As a matter of fact, governments of Guangdong province and the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao are already taking necessary measures to cash in on the Bay Area, so to speak, with an eye on engaging young people to ensure its future development. The nine cities in Guangdong are some of the best-developed on the mainland, but Hong Kong youths probably know Shenzhen and Guangzhou a lot more than the other seven cities in the Pearl River Delta region. That means they should at least consider career opportunities in those smaller PRD cities and start learning more about them now. After all, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are already very high on mainland college graduates' list of job spots. Hong Kong youths contemplating careers in those two big cities will face very stiff competition for sure.

Many recent opinion polls found Hong Kong youths in their 20s are generally more open to working in Guangdong than older people - especially those who already have a stable job here in Hong Kong. But the percentage of those who do not reject the idea of finding career opportunities up north is not remarkably high. Some observers believe the SAR government and its Guangdong counterpart should provide useful information about what to expect for those looking forward to working in the PRD area, such as the concept of the "one hour living circle". That will definitely be a plus for those who want to expand their career prospects beyond Hong Kong. Remember: Opportunities come to those who are prepared.