As one of the leading cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Hong Kong will play a crucial role in constructing an interconnected, fast and efficient integrated rail transportation system. The State Council has issued the "Outline for the Construction of Nation with Strong Transportation System", which proposes the rational planning and development of technical reserves for a high-speed maglev system with speeds up to 600 km/h. The Shenzhen Municipal Transportation Bureau has released the "Shenzhen Comprehensive Transportation 14th Five-Year Plan", which clearly states the plan to promote the Guangzhou-Shenzhen high-speed maglev project. This line will connect critical nodes such as Guangzhou Airport, downtown Guangzhou, the Nansha Free Trade Zone, Shenzhen Airport, the Qianhai Free Trade Zone, Hong Kong Lantau Island, and Hong Kong Airport, enabling 30-minute direct connectivity between strategic core areas and facilitating the agglomeration of high-end resources along the development axis of the GBA. With speeds approaching that of aircraft cruising, high-speed maglev can effectively fill the travel speed gap between air travel and high-speed rail. As an advanced international technology, maglev is also a key "high ground" in current global rail transportation technology. The development of maglev technology is of great and far-reaching significance for China to form a comprehensive maglev system with full-speed testing and verification capabilities, establish a complete technological system and standardisation system, and maintain China's leading position in rail transportation technology.
CNERC-Rail has recommended that the government actively integrates into the national science and technology development plan, develops maglev technology, and establishes an International Maglev Research Centre in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. This initiative will inject new motivation into Hong Kong’s technological innovation and economic transformation, enhancing Hong Kong’s technological R&D capabilities and operational management experience in related fields. It will also help Hong Kong to make further progress on the international science and technology stage, opening up exciting opportunities for the future. Specific measures are suggested as follows:
1) Government funding support and policy guidance: The government should provide funding support to finance the infrastructure construction, talent introduction, and research projects of the International Maglev Research Centre in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park and formulate relevant policies to guide and support the development of maglev technology in Hong Kong.
2) Promoting collaboration among government, industry, academia, and research: Under the government’s support and guidance, encourage the International Maglev Research Centre to cooperate with universities, research institutions, and enterprises to jointly promote the research and application of maglev technology, and facilitate the transformation and industrialisation of research achievements.
3) Talent attraction and development: Support the International Maglev Research Centre in attracting world-class maglev technology experts and researchers and provide support and preferential policies in talent cultivation and introduction.
4) International cooperation and exchange: Encourage the International Maglev Research Centre to actively cooperate and exchange with international maglev research institutions, jointly promoting the innovation and development of global maglev technology.
5) Technology transformation and industrial development: Support the International Maglev Research Centre in transforming research achievements into practical productivity, promote the application of maglev technology in fields such as transportation and logistics, and foster the development and innovation of related industries.
