Access to China’s housing fund for Hongkongers hits a snag, as Shenzhen-based firm refuses to let eligible employee join

A move by Beijing to give Hongkongers and Macanese on the mainland equal treatment with their counterparts there has a hit a snag, with a major real estate group telling newly-hired Hongkongers that it would not give them access to China’s housing fund, despite the central government announcing the nationwide policy last week.

A 24-year-old Hong Kong woman, who only wanted to be identified as Amy, said she was given the runaround and a warning when she asked her Shenzhen-based company about the policy.

“The human resources officer said no negative media coverage about this should be allowed,” Amy, a trainee at the company, said.

She did not want to name the firm, which is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, for fear of jeopardising her job.

In July, the cities of Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan and Zhongshan in Guangdong province were told to allow Hongkongers hired by local firms to join the fund, with President Xi Jinping announcing his intention to make it “more convenient” for Hongkongers to “study, work and live on the mainland” and take advantage of growth opportunities.

Previously, the scheme was only available to those working in a handful of cities, such as Guangzhou and Shanghai.