Mainland China cybersecurity firms tap Hong Kong market amid increasing demand for talent

Mainland Chinese cybersecurity companies are expanding their operations to Hong Kong to tap the city’s increasing demand for cybersecurity talent, as Hong Kong experiences recurrent incidents of hacking amid its drive to become a technology and innovation hub.

Beijing-headquartered Qi An Xin, one of the biggest cybersecurity firms in mainland China, will set up at the Hong Kong Science Park, with operations including an international research and development (R&D) and talent training centre, a business centre and a security operation centre, the company said on Friday.

Home to more than 1,500 companies and some of Hong Kong’s top data centre providers, the Science Park will enlist Qi An Xin to help companies at the government-run incubator strengthen their network security and act as testing platforms for the cybersecurity firm, said Albert Wong, CEO of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

Wong spoke at a ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Qi An Xin and the Science Park, attended by Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong and Hao Yinxing, a director at the China liaison office.

Qi An Xin will also provide services to the city’s government, public institutions and companies in sectors including financial services, education, healthcare and transportation, the company said.

Beijing Integrity Technology, a Shanghai-listed company that provides cybersecurity training to enterprises, announced on Thursday that it would set up an operation in Hong Kong next year to train local talent.

Hong Kong’s digital transformation has brought a “huge wave of opportunities”, which brings the need for security, Cai Jingjing, chairman of Beijing Integrity Technology, said in a media briefing on Thursday.