The founding (left) and current (right) Managing Directors of Hutchison Ports YANTIAN were both invited by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to join the “An Oral History of Shenzhen” project as two of its one hundred narrators.

⭕The story of YANTIAN is, in essence, a continuation of the spirit of Shenzhen–Hong Kong cooperation.

As one of the earliest pioneers of the cooperation between the two cities, YANTIAN has remained steadfast in its founding aspiration since its establishment in 1993—united in heart and mind, creating brilliance together.

My connection with Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing Port and Shenzhen's YANTIAN began in 1996. To contribute to the partnership between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has been not only a matter of destiny, but also a lifelong mission.

In recent years, with the active support and concerted efforts of the Shenzhen CPPCC and the governments of both Shenzhen and Hong Kong, I have had the privilege to personally participate in and witness a number of groundbreaking cooperative initiatives—including the one-time pilotage program at Mirs Bay, the LNG bunkering service from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, and the launch of the Chongqing–Shenzhen–Hong Kong and Chengdu–Shenzhen–Hong Kong scheduled rail-sea services. These projects have fostered mutual benefit and shared growth between the two cities, and even across the region. Witnessing the ever-deepening and broadening cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong under the framework of One Country, Two Systems fills me with great pride and excitement.

Looking ahead, I firmly believe that the partnership between Shenzhen and Hong Kong will continue to write even more brilliant chapters. As for me, I will continue to travel between the two cities, contributing myself to this shared endeavour.

—Lawrence Shum, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports YANTIAN

An Oral History of Shenzhen is a major cultural initiative jointly launched by the Shenzhen CPPCC in collaboration with the Shenzhen Evening News and other institutions. It forms part of the CPPCC's cultural and historical program centered on firsthand experience, firsthand observation, and firsthand accounts.

The following content is excerpted from the Shenzhen Evening News: Deepening Emotional Bonds Through Twin-City Stories—An Oral History of Shenzhen: The Shenzhen–Hong Kong Stories Officially Released

On September 19, the summary meeting and book launch for the fifth season of An Oral History of Shenzhen: The Shenzhen–Hong Kong Stories was held in Shenzhen. Qiao Hengli, Vice Chairman of the Shenzhen CPPCC, attended the event together with representatives from the Shenzhen Archives, the Party History and Documentation Research Office of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal CPC Committee, Shenzhen Library, the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences, Shenzhen University, the Shenzhen Evening News under the Shenzhen Press Group, and Shenzhen Publishing House, as well as other narrators from the initiative. The event was chaired by Yin Changlong, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen CPPCC and Director of its Committee on Culture and History. 

An Oral History of Shenzhen has been jointly organised by the Shenzhen CPPCC's Committee on Culture and History and the Shenzhen Evening News since its inception in 2014 and is one of the flagship cultural and historical projects of the Shenzhen CPPCC. Now in its fifth season, the project remains true to its mission— to document firsthand experience, firsthand observation, and firsthand accounts. Through vivid personal narratives, it weaves together the living memories of individuals into the larger tapestry of Shenzhen's extraordinary urban evolution.

At the event, Wang Lei, Deputy Director of the Committee on Culture and History and Director of the Institute of Culture and History of the Shenzhen CPPCC, delivered a summary on the progress of the fifth season of An Oral History of Shenzhen. This season adopted a multi-platform, multimedia approach—spanning serialized newspaper features, audio programs, short videos, documentaries, digital archives, exhibitions, and publications—to vividly tell the stories of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, celebrate the pioneering spirit of the Special Economic Zone, and further inspire collective strength toward building the Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics while spreading a message of positivity and unity. The project has achieved remarkable reach and social impact: its 100-episode newspaper series has garnered a total online readership of 580 million; short videos have been viewed over 65 million times; the audio edition of An Oral History of Shenzhen has accumulated more than 120 million plays on the Ximalaya app in China; and its international edition Himalaya has recorded over 56 million plays worldwide.

Shenzhen and Hong Kong—united in strength, connected in spirit, and advancing together toward a shared future.

Further reading:
Lawrence Shum has actively submitted policy proposals focused on Shenzhen–Hong Kong collaboration, multimodal transport, and port development. Notable submissions include: Charting a Green Blueprint for Port and Shipping Logistics to Support Shenzhen's Emergence as a Global Maritime Hub, Strengthening Rail-Sea Service to Advance the Green Transformation of the Transportation Sector, and Empowering Yantian's Shipping and Logistics to Usher in a New Era of Excellence in the Core Area. Among which the Strengthening Rail-Sea Service to Advance the Green Transformation of the Transportation Sector was selected for inclusion in the CPPCC Report on Public Opinion and Policy Suggestions, with many of his proposals already being implemented.

YANTIAN has long been at the forefront of Shenzhen–Hong Kong cooperation, collaborating closely with Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing Port to promote connectivity across domestic and international markets. The Chongqing–Shenzhen–Hong Kong and Chengdu–Shenzhen–Hong Kong scheduled rail-sea services stand out as exemplary models of Shenzhen–Hong Kong cooperation, complementary strengths, and mutual benefit. These services reduce transit time from Chongqing or Chengdu to YANTIAN from five days to two, with cargo able to reach Kwai Tsing Port by feeder services on the third day. Upon arrival at either YANTIAN or Kwai Tsing Port, cargoes are swiftly loaded onto international liners for efficient delivery to over 200 countries and regions worldwide. This provides international trade enterprises in the Chengdu–Chongqing region and other inland areas with a stable, efficient, and low-carbon export channel, establishing a model of shared prosperity among Chengdu–Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

A smooth trade flow fosters vibrant economies and thriving industries. The Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service is a direct response to the Decision issued by the Third Plenary Session, which emphasises leveraging the advantages of the "one country, two systems" policy to strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international hub for finance, shipping, and trade. In addition, the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the HKSAR Government spoke highly of the crucial role of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service and the SZ-HK Connect in facilitating efficient coordination between the Kwai Tsing and YANTIAN. The success of the Chongqing-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service and the Chengdu-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Scheduled Rail-Sea Service is closely linked to the 31 years of feeder cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. YANTIAN has been at the forefront of promoting Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, working hand-in-hand with Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing Port to strengthen internal connectivity and external outreach. In 2024, the volume of laden containers transported by feeder services between YANTIAN and Hong Kong increased by nearly 30% year-on-year. Not only this specific route, but also the total annual throughput via feeder reached fresh all-time highs.

Kwai Tsing Port primarily serves Asian and South American markets, boasting the largest number of Intra-Asia (120+) and South America (15) services in South China, while YANTIAN focuses on Europe and the US service, with 4 vessels heading for Europe and 6 vessels heading for the US every day.

This achievement highlights the strong mutual support and complementary strengths between YANTIAN and Hong Kong. It not only exemplifies the spirit of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation and mutual benefit, but also provides a stable and efficient logistics channel for international trade enterprises in the Greater Bay Area and inland regions. Furthermore, it offers robust support for seamless rail-sea intermodal transportation, ensuring smooth integration into the global shipping network.

Lawrence Shum outlined three key areas for deepening cooperation: a) "hard connectivity" through the effective integration of infrastructure; b) "soft connectivity" via regulatory systems and operational mechanisms; c) "heart-to-heart connectivity" through stronger people-to-people ties between the two cities. He expressed his hope that, under the framework of One Country, Two Systems, Shenzhen–Hong Kong cooperation will continue to expand in breadth and depth, allowing the "City of Innovation" and the "Pearl of the Orient" to radiate together with even greater brilliance.