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Strengthening support for associations of Hong Kong citizens
in the Mainland
In recent years, the Central Government has introduced about 40 policies regarding
housing and entrepreneurship to facilitate Hong Kong citizens’ development in the GBA.
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However, approximately half of respondents were unfamiliar with the policies. It is worth
noting that respondents with better understanding of the measures were more confident
in their development prospects.

Local support services must adequately address citizens’ needs and provide immediate
solutions, so that Hong Kong citizens in the GBA can better understand and benefit from
these measures. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Guangdong
is the main agency providing support, but it only has two GBA offices in Guangzhou
and Shenzhen, which are both limited to resolving emergencies and disseminating
information. Even though the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions offers free legal
advisory services for HKETO in Guangdong, the service only covers four mainland GBA
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cities. Meanwhile, many associations of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland, including Prioritising the supply of fruits, vegetables, and
chambers of commerce, fraternal associations, and start-up associations are already other foodstuffs to Hong Kong (Mean score: 6.8) 65% 13% 16% 6%
providing services in different cities on exchange activities as well as career and start-up
counselling. The Government should combine its resource advantages with these various Providing rapid test kits and anti-epidemic 58% 14% 23% 5%
associations’ extensive experience to provide appropriate support for Hong Kong citizens Chinese medicines (Mean score: 6.2)
in the Mainland. Meanwhile, the Government should strengthen communication with the Helping to build community isolation 52% 15% 27% 6%
associations so that they can serve as a bridge between the Government and citizens in and treatment facilities (Mean score: 5.9)
their daily needs and policy support requirements. This will further boost their confidence Sending medical support teams
to develop in the GBA. to Hong Kong (Mean score: 5.8) 52% 13% 29% 6%
Establishing various mainland expert groups
Building a qualifications recognition ecosystem of central authorities (Mean score: 5.5) 46% 16% 29% 9%
Establishing a systematic and regular flow of talents across the GBA will require an
ecosystem which puts education, qualifications, and work experience across all sectors 6–10 (quite useful) 5 (neutral)
and regions on equal footing. Currently, more than seven sectors benefit from the 0–4 (less useful) No opinion / Don't know /
Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), with each Prefer not to answer
sector forming agreements with its mainland counterparts to establish an accreditation
system through registration or examination. CEPA in its current form has yet to cover
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a multitude of industries under the Qualifications Framework. The Government should
continue to work with the Department of Education of Guangdong Province to integrate
qualifications frameworks across the region with a view to establish a wider qualifications
recognition ecosystem.

4. Conclusion

Talent flow is the catalyst to unlock the GBA’s full potential. Both mainland talents in
Hong Kong and Hong Kong talents in the Mainland still face challenges in their daily lives,
despite a general consensus on talent flow’s importance and urgency. The Government
must take further steps to support their endeavours by providing greater development
opportunities, thus herald a new era of sustainable and coordinated growth for the GBA.

15. Percent of respondents who expressed a lack of understanding for each measure: Entrepreneurship-related
policies (50%), housing safeguard policies (51%), settlement benefits (51%).
16. The four mainland cities in the GBA are Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhongshan.
17. Including securities and futures services, architecture and related engineering services, accounting services,
medical services, legal services, education services, and tourism services. 5