Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan Deepens Cross-Border Cooperation as Shenzhen's Futian Builds a 'Golden Triangle' Super CBD

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government recently released its 'First Five-Year Plan' (2026–2030), marking the first time Hong Kong has formulated such a plan. The timeline aligns with mainland China’s '15th Five-Year Plan', symbolizing a new stage in Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation.

Deepening Shenzhen-Hong Kong Integration: Hetao as the Innovation Core

According to the plan, the term 'Shenzhen elements' appears 110 times in Hong Kong’s 'First Five-Year Plan', while 'Hong Kong elements' are mentioned approximately 130 times in Shenzhen’s '15th Five-Year Plan'. Chinese financial expert Liu Xiaobo analyzed that Hong Kong’s urban strategy is shifting toward 'financial services in the south, innovation and technology in the north', focusing on developing the Northern Metropolis adjacent to Shenzhen. The 'Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Cooperation Zone' is mentioned 30 times in Hong Kong’s plan—the highest frequency among all cross-border cooperation areas.

Liu Xiaobo pointed out that the Hong Kong side of the Hetao zone focuses on R&D and pilot testing, complemented by industrialization at the Naitian Science Park, jointly forming with the Shenzhen zone an innovation corridor bridging 'from 0 to 1' and 'from 1 to 100'. This is expected to become the next explosive growth point under Shenzhen-Hong Kong collaboration.

Data shows that although the combined land area of Shenzhen and Hong Kong is only about half that of Shanghai or Guangzhou, they aggregate nearly 27 million people and around 33 trillion RMB in capital. The 'Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou' innovation cluster has ranked first globally for two consecutive years.

Futian Expands to Build the 'Golden Triangle', Integrating Three Core Functions

In regional development, Shenzhen Futian’s territorial spatial planning establishes a 'one core, two wings, three poles' structure, reserving sites for a high-speed maglev train station and reconstructing the new Huanggang Port. Liu Xiaobo stated that a 'Golden Triangle' super CBD—comprising the original Futian Central District, Xiangmihu New Financial Center, and Hetao Shenzhen Zone—is taking shape.

Liu Xiaobo assessed that this super CBD meets rigid demands of tech enterprises for financing, listing, and connecting with international talent. Moreover, the high concentration of administrative, financial, and technological core functions within a 20–30 square kilometer area is extremely rare among tier-one cities.

A Cross-Border 'World Bay' Emerges, Combining Core Functions with Ecological Resources

As development progresses in Hetao and Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, Shenzhen-Hong Kong resources are converging in eastern Shenzhen Bay. Liu Xiaobo believes a cross-border 'World Bay' is emerging, where ideal living environments must combine urban core resources with scarce ecological assets.

Take the development project 'CSCEC Yipin Yunhai Yuanjing', located within the Golden Triangle. Situated about 700 meters from the Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve, it is developed by a platform under CSCEC Group, which previously participated in constructing the Shenzhen International Trade Center. The project plans 784 residential units with floor areas ranging from approximately 109 to 143 square meters. Liu Xiaobo concluded that as the super CBD takes shape, regions combining prime location with ecological resources deserve close attention.