High on the Nansha trail

When sports and youth — the epitomes of dynamism and positivity — meet, there is chemistry. The idea of leveraging sports to spark heartfelt interaction can be traced back to 1979 when the first Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup was held to promote integration and exchanges between the two places, says Fok. But these days, the focus of Guangdong-Hong Kong communication "has been extended to the youth". As chairman of the Hong Kong Guangdong Youth Association, he initiated the first session of a Greater Bay Area youth soccer contest in 2018 — a seminal year marking the 39th Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup and, coincidentally, the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. "We hope our youths can better understand the nation's development by taking part in the tournaments."

On his plan to promote the integration of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, Fok says he will still place a premium on cross-border youth interaction through sports, culture and tourism— a go-to conversation starter that fosters a sense of togetherness and belonging.

He strongly adheres to his grandfather's Nansha vision. Now it's also his. A "signature voice" and an inviting personality, who is vigorous, approachable and open-minded for Nansha, are what he's pursuing. He thinks big, does so sustainably and is a massive overachiever.

He will persistently contribute his fair share while youths in the Greater Bay Area too must do their part.

"It's my late grandfather's unfulfilled dream. I feel obliged to carry on the legacy."