Qianhai economic zone will offer a special tax rate of just 15 per cent

Struggling to find the right job in Hong Kong? How about across the border, just an hour away by car from Hong Kong?

Zhang Bei, the boss of the Qianhai special economic zone, says the small but important zone can create many job opportunities for young Hongkongers, especially those with financial experience.

"We will vigorously bring in Hong Kong talent to take part in the development of Qianhai special zone, which we hope can become a good platform for career growth and job promotion for many young Hong Kong people," Zhang said.

The clincher could be a special tax rate set at just 15 per cent, the same as the maximum in Hong Kong and far lower than the typical rate on the mainland.

The 15-square-kilometre special zone is set to play a key role in efforts to internationalise the yuan and experiment with currency convertibility. Its mission has won approval from President Xi Jinping , who dropped by during his first domestic tour in December after taking over as Communist Party chief.

Qianhai got permission from Beijing to offer the low tax rate to Hong Kong people or foreign nationals who live and work in Qianhai. It's designed to attract Hong Kong financial professionals who are put off from working in other mainland cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, by high tax levels.