The Release and Symposium of the China Urban Competitiveness Report (2008) was Held in Hong Kong

On April 1, 2008, the Release and Symposiumof the China Urban Competitiveness Report was held in Hong Kong. The Symposiumwas sponsored by the Better Hong Kong Foundation, and jointly organized by theNational Academy of Economics Strategy of CASS and the Hong Kong Institute ofAsia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of HongKong.

The completionof the 2008 Blue Book of Urban Competitiveness was led by Dr. Ni Pengfei, headof the Research Office of Urban and Real Estate Industry in the NationalAcademy of Economics Strategy of CASS. It used objective data to conduct quantitativeanalysis on the comprehensive competitiveness of more than 200 prefecture-leveland above cities in Mainland China, China’s Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

The top 10cities in urban competitiveness were: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing,Taipei, Guangzhou, Kaohsiung, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Tianjin. Hong Kong ranked1st in efficiency competitiveness, structure competitiveness and qualitycompetitiveness.

Ms. Karen Tang, CEOof the Better Hong Kong Foundation, said Hong Kong has ranked 1st in China’surban comprehensive competitiveness for three consecutive years, indicatingthat the competitiveness of Hong Kong had been performing very well. However, ifHong Kong wanted to maintain its competitiveness in the long term, it had toseek cooperation with the Pearl River Delta cities and to try to lead the developmentof the region. In addition, it also had to strengthen its transportation,information, infrastructure, commercial and financial sectors. It was also ofgreat importance to expand the financial services sector to further strengthenthe role of being Asia’s financial center.