Xu Yangsheng, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, welcomed the idea of more Hong Kong universities setting up campuses on the mainland. "We can jointly develop the Greater Bay Area," he said, adding it's very important to know how to cultivate professionals the Greater Bay Area needs.

The 14th Five-Year Plan sees the Greater Bay Area as the region's "innovative technology" hub. Therefore, technology professionals are needed to attain that goal.

Patrick Luk, 23, a fresh graduate of the HKUST who majored in biotechnology and founded a startup in Hong Kong, said he believes the university's new campus will promote communication among the 11 cities of the Greater Bay Area and encourage professionals to stay there.

"I think more Hong Kong students would like to work and live in the Greater Bay Area if it's well run, as it will provide greater job opportunities for them than in the past," said Luk.

"For some industries such as biotechnology, Hong Kong is a good place to do research, but it's not an ideal place for related jobs due to its small market."

The HKUST Guangzhou is a good place for recruiting and cultivating doctor of philosophy in technological fields' students who intend to stay in the Greater Bay Area, Luk said.

According to Xu, CUHK Shenzhen will work with CUHK on the development of its School of Medicine in the near future.

"The Greater Bay Area requires an institution with a sound and strategic frame to develop medical education and services," he said. "We'll join hands in developing and running the school well."

"We also plan to cooperate with the government under the Qianhai plan, such as co-founding research institutions in Qianhai with CUHK," said Xu.

"Cooperation will be in various areas, including education studies, innovative technology, the digital economy and global affairs. We want to turn Qianhai into an international technology center with Shenzhen and Hong Kong characteristics."