Policies draw more HK, Macao youth to Guangzhou

Nansha district becomes magnet for entrepreneurs, investment opportunities

Damon Lau, a young man from Macao who two years ago started working in the Nansha district of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, gave credit for his job opportunity to policies designed by the local government to attract business startups from Hong Kong and Macao.

In early 2019, as part of plans for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou's government introduced a policy to help young people from the two special administrative regions move to the mainland city, with an emphasis on starting their own businesses, using preferential policies covering studies, internships, exchanges, business startups and living arrangements.

After examinations and rounds of interviews, Lau, 28, was among the first group of young people from Hong Kong and Macao to sign on as civil servants in Nansha, working for the administrative bureau that oversees the development and construction of a local industrial zone.

"The Greater Bay Area offers a new window for young people from Hong Kong and Macao who are willing to work in public service organizations on the Chinese mainland," said Lau. In his case, he is responsible for helping attract investment to the zone where he works.

Lau said he developed more confidence about working and living on the Chinese mainland as a result of a plan to promote comprehensive cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao by further deepening the opening-up of Nansha. The plan was released recently by the State Council, China's Cabinet.

"The plan gave greater prominence to Nansha's development, which greatly enhances the confidence of more young people from Hong Kong and Macao to start businesses and live in the district," he said.

In addition to building joint scientific and technological innovation systems for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the plan also stressed the importance of creating a youth entrepreneurship and employment cooperation platform in Nansha.

The plan also calls for encouraging existing business incubation centers to provide more support for entrepreneurship and employment, specifically for young people from Hong Kong or Macao.

"In my opinion, the plan is based on the needs of Hong Kong and Macao residents, especially young people working and living in Nansha," Lau said. "It has lessened our worries to a great degree in terms of equal treatment both in working and living on the Chinese mainland."

Lau said he was most impressed by the development of a youth entrepreneurship and employment platform－especially one including the promotion of internships and employment security－included in the plan.

"It is conducive to the better career development of Hong Kong and Macao youth who have already worked in Nansha and can fully utilize their unique advantages on a larger stage," he said.

The plan supported measures to pool high-end international talent as well as special support measures for talent from Hong Kong and Macao, including introductions, equity incentives, technology investments, professional title evaluations, professional qualification recognition, children's education and commercial medical insurance.

It also encourages public institutions, government-linked organizations and State-owned enterprises to employ Hong Kong and Macao talent.

"Policies including education, insurance and healthcare have provided a security mechanism for us," Lau said.