Think GBA • Think Nansha
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On 14 June the Central Government unveiled a 26-point Nansha Master Plan to encourage further cooperation between Hong Kong and Nansha. The key words in the title of the Master Plan are “world-facing”, highlighting the international super-connector role of Hong Kong.
Nansha is the southern-most and hence the closest district of Guangzhou to Hong Kong. By high-speed rail, the Qingsheng station is 35 minutes away from West Kowloon, placing Nansha within the daily-commute radius of Hong Kong. And thanks to the co-location inspection arrangement in the West Kowloon Station, there is no customs, immigration and quarantine procedure at the Nansha end.
Mega infrastructure projects are being built, such as the 24-km long Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge that links Nansha to Shenzhen, and the rail systems that provide rapid transport to the city centre of Guangzhou and Zhuhai.
What’s in Nansha?
With a land area of 803 square kilometers (72% of Hong Kong), Nansha already has a diverse economy. The Toyota joint-venture plant in Nansha is producing a million cars a year; the Nansha container terminal is the largest in southern China; Nansha has China’s largest home port for cruise ships and the third largest shipbuilding yard in China. HSBC is building a global training centre in Nansha, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) which has a site area twice that of the Clearwater Bay campus will be open on 1 September this year.
Incentives for Hong Kong?
- Corporate Tax: reduced rate of 15% for selected industries in the pioneer zones
- Personal Tax: for Hong Kong residents, capped at Hong Kong tax liabilities
- Subsidies: for eligible Hong Kong residents, entrepreneurship subsidies, supporting services for employment and accommodation, and for children's education
- Professional Services: enhanced market access and recognition of qualifications
Structured Dialogue with Hong Kong
15 months ago, the Consultative Committee on Guangdong-Hong Kong Co-operation (Guangzhou Nansha) was appointed by the Guangzhou Government. This is the first Mainland to Hong Kong G2B committee. There are 36 members covering subjects such as city planning, financial services, trade, professional services, innovation and technology, education, communication, tourism, legal services, policy research, healthcare, transportation, and youth matters etc.
The Committee’s Service Centre in Nansha
The Committee has a 10,000 square-foot fully equipped service centre in Nansha which services the needs also of 23 outside members who are major Hong Kong chambers of commerce, professional bodies, and other non-government bodies from Hong Kong. The use of the premises and facilities is for free. Some of these member bodies have since obtained legal entity status in Guangzhou, opened bank accounts, and employed staff. The application process takes less than a month.
Members of the Service Centre
in alphabetical order
1. Bay Area Hong Kong Centre
2. Belt and Road Hong Kong Centre
3. Chamber of Food & Beverage Industry of Hong Kong
4. Construction Industry Council
5. Federation of Hong Kong Industries
6. GBA Hong Kong Doctors Association
7. GBA International Info-Tech Industry Association
8. GX Foundation
9. Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Guangxi
10. Hong Kong Industrial & Commerical Association
11. Hong Kong United Foundation
12. Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Association
13. One Country Two System Research Institute
14. The Chamber of Hong Kong Logistics Industry
15. The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong
16. The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong
17. The Elderly Services Association of Hong Kong
18. The Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ & Exporters’ Association
19. The Hong Kong Coalition of Professional Services
20. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
21. The Hong Kong Management Association
22. The Hong Kong Retail Management Association
23. The Junior Police Officers’ Association of the Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong/International Community District in Nansha
For further Information:
Raymond Yip
Chief Liaison Officer
