bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Emily Hung

A new action plan released by the Qianhai authorities in Shenzhen aims to strengthen its position as a “key partner” to Hong Kong rather than a competitor, further bolstering the city’s status as a global hub for finance, trade and talent.
The 2026 plan, released recently by authorities, is set to deepen cooperation between the special economic zone and the city through a dual-headquarters hub that enables Hong Kong-based unicorns to benefit from the free flow of capital, data and resources.
A unicorn in business is a private start-up valued at more than US$1 billion.
Gary Wong Chi-him, chief Hong Kong and Macau liaison expert of the Qianhai Authority of Shenzhen, told the Post on Sunday that the plan underscored the zone’s role as a “key partner of Hong Kong”.
“Everything Qianhai does is for the benefit of Hong Kong,” he said.
“Qianhai is not a competitor but a key partner that supports the integration of Hong Kong into the overall national development plan, and makes it even better.”
Under the plan, a “SZ-HK Nexus” dual-headquarters hub will be set up, encompassing 29 villa-style office buildings for enterprises from Hong Kong and mainland China to set up operations in Qianhai.
Wong said only companies of a certain scale – those generating at least 1 billion yuan (US$143.5 million) in annual revenue and aligning with national development strategies, preferably unicorn start-ups – would be eligible.
Seven firms have been selected so far.
Mainland companies are required to have a headquarters in Hong Kong before settling there, hence benefiting the city’s economy.
“Once they are based in Qianhai, they could enjoy a free flow of capital, data, talent and resources between the mainland and Hong Kong headquarters, which had been challenging because of the differences in the two systems,” he said.
“Setting up headquarters in Qianhai allows companies to reduce costs by relocating part of their operations, expand into the Greater Bay Area, and tap new opportunities both domestically and internationally.”
With more Hongkongers expected to work in the area, a dedicated service centre for Hong Kong residents and companies will also be established in Qianhai to provide one-stop support.
There are currently 12,000 residents from the city and 11,000 Hong Kong-funded companies in Qianhai.
Wong said Qianhai was now the most Hong Kong-like city on the mainland as the authorities were striving to make it “feel like home” for Hongkongers, with some road signs written in traditional Chinese and English.
“There is vast potential for a comprehensive industry chain in which Hong Kong does the research and development, Nanshan does the technology transfer, and Bao’an does the advanced manufacturing,” he said.
Both Nanshan and Bao’an are major technology hubs within Qianhai. The former is home to more than 5,000 companies including Tencent, while the latter is known for its advanced manufacturing capabilities.
“The companies could then leverage Hong Kong’s IPO [initial public offering] platform to go public and expand into the international market, and that would further consolidate Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre,” he said.
Under an overall development plan released two years ago, Qianhai aims to make its business environment top-tier globally by 2030 and become an international trade centre and a high-end shipping hub by 2035.
Economist Simon Lee Siu-po of the Shenzhen Finance Institute at the Chinese University of Hong Kong said the new plan unlocked more opportunities for Hong Kong.
“The application of Hong Kong arbitration and law for locally funded enterprises has been impressive because it addresses the legal concerns faced by businesses,” he said.
Lee added that the wider adoption of Hong Kong-style systems – such as recognition of professional licences and the exchange of medical data – would continue to make living and working in Qianhai more convenient.
Qianhai, or the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, was created in 2010 to deepen the collaboration between the neighbours under the Greater Bay Area development strategy.
In 2024, the zone’s gross domestic product was more than 300 billion yuan.


Hong Kong should see the ‘silver economy’ as a golden opportunity

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub seeks US$1 billion in first bond sale to fund operations

John Lee vows ‘systematic framework’ to align Hong Kong with nation’s blueprint

CK Hutchison pursues ‘all legal options’ on Panama ports, invites consultations

Hong Kong economy

Qianhai to strengthen role as key partner to Hong Kong

A mural depicting Hong Kong cityscapes is seen at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub. Photo: Eugene Lee

Young tech entrepreneurs enticed by southern China’s innovation hub in Qianhai

Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, also known as Ehub, was set up in 2014 as a cross-border innovation platform for young entrepreneurs. 

Qianhai was created to encourage greater collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and foster innovation in modern service industries in the GBA. 

Elvis Yu, co-founder of Hong Kong start-up Inspro, says Ehub’s support has helped his firm connect with strategic partners and investors to fuel its global growth.

Harry Chen, co-founder of Singaporean start-up E3A Healthcare, says the company opened offices in Hong Kong and Qianhai in Shenzhen to “benefit from synergy between the two cities”. 

Qianhai Authority

Why Qianhai is becoming a popular destination for work and play in China’s GBA

Qianhai, which was established on reclaimed land in 2010, continues to drive closer ties between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau and develop modern service industries.

A rendering of the Eyes of the GBA – a multi-storey bookshop and cultural complex which includes a rooftop garden – has been designed in the shape of twin jade discs.

A computer-generated image of Qianhai Snow World, which is expected to open in the last quarter of this year and will house the world’s largest indoor ski slope.

Happy Theater, which forms part of Shenzhen’s OCT OH Bay mixed-use complex (pictured), will host the closing ceremony of the 15th National Games on November 21.

Qianhai Museum, which will be located beside Qianhai Bay and feature a 40-metre-high atrium (pictured), is expected to officially open its doors next year.

The Chinese government hopes Qianhai will become a world-class centre for international trade and shipping, as well as a premium multi-purpose neighbourhood, by 2035.

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Dual-headquarters hub will enable Hong Kong-based unicorns to benefit from the free flow of capital, data and resources


Dual-headquarters hub will enable Hong Kong-based unicorns to benefit from the free flow of capital, data and resources.


Qianhai to strengthen role as key partner to Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dual-headquarters hub will enable Hong Kong-based unicorns to benefit from the free flow of capital, data and resources

Dual-headquarters hub will enable Hong Kong-based unicorns to benefit from the free flow of capital, data and resources