OP-EDS

But I spent one Friday afternoon recently wandering around Shenzhen and there were a couple of situations that didn’t match its big-city dreams. In a mall near the Luohu border crossing, salespeople pushed me into a cheap “trial” foot massage, and then staff wouldn’t let up, trying to pressure me into buying an expensive long-term package. This kind of bait-and-switch in a busy spot near the border could turn off tourists and investors from Hong Kong, getting in the way of our shared goals for the Greater Bay Area.

As I strolled along the streets that afternoon, electric scooters were zooming all over pedestrian paths – a real danger – and I had to dodge them myself.

Later, I stopped at a restaurant where customers were smoking in outdoor dining areas and ruining the experience for others with clouds of smoke.

As someone from Hong Kong who wants the whole Greater Bay Area to thrive, I’m urging Shenzhen officials to step up before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Crack down on aggressive sales tricks in malls and shops, get tough on scooters to keep pavements safe and actually enforce no-smoking zones in public areas.

This isn’t just for the summit – it’s about building a safe environment that lasts. That’s how Shenzhen can keep growing and link up better with Hong Kong, benefiting everyone in the region.