The DAB's deputies to the National People's Congress on Friday announced a series of proposals for the upcoming Two Sessions meetings in Beijing next month, focusing on enhancing the integration of Hong Kong into the nation's development strategy.

Among more than 20 suggestions to be tabled, key priorities include the coordinated development of ports across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the city's integration into the mainland’s air-rail intermodal transport system.

This year’s proposals are designed to align with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, leverage Hong Kong’s unique strengths and contribute to the nation’s high-quality development.

They also complement Hong Kong's forthcoming five-year plan to be formulated by the chief executive in step with national strategies.

One of the DAB's main recommendations is the optimisation of logistics and trade through enhanced port development and intermodal transport networks within the GBA.

The DAB's Kennedy Wong stressed the need for closer coordination among the Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong governments — particularly in infrastructure and customs procedures.

"The GBA will gradually become a much more integrated economic area, then we also need the central authorities to let us expedite the sort of customs clearance," he said.

Wong cited the example of a logistics park in Dongguan, authorised by central customs, where goods are packed, inspected and cleared before being transported to Hong Kong’s ports or airport for cross-border e-commerce.

"There are a lot of logistical hurdles to overcome. It's not just the basic infrastructure, it's really the cooperation and the simplification of the other processes amongst the three governments," he said.

Wong also noted that the western part of the GBA — which includes cities like Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Yangjiang — is rapidly expanding its manufacturing capacity.

To serve this region efficiently, he proposed establishing another central-authorised logistics hub similar to Dongguan, ensuring both the eastern and western wings of the GBA benefit from streamlined export channels to Hong Kong’s ports and airports.

Wong also urged Hong Kong businesses to tap into emerging markets such as Asean countries, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where growth outpaces traditional markets.

The DAB suggested empowering Chinese embassies and consulates to offer protection, mediation and networking support for Hong Kong enterprises abroad.

Meanwhile, Rock Chen highlighted a proposal to integrate Hong Kong into the mainland’s air-rail transport system.

This, he said, would involve potentially expanding the existing 12306 platform for high-speed rail tickets, to include international flights and the Airport Express.

“I think this will greatly enhance their convenience and also facilitate the intention to use high-speed rail to take our international flights,” Chen said.

"I think the key task is really for the mainland relevant departments to kind of modify the system, the 12306 ticketing platform, so that we could accommodate the idea we propose.

"It shouldn't be too difficult, but I think they would need to examine all the potential implications."

Other proposals include positioning Hong Kong as an international gold trading hub, expanding beyond the initially planned storage capacity of 2,000 tonnes, and developing a suite of renminbi-denominated gold products.