Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Maggie Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (January 21):
Question:
The Mainland offices and liaison units of the Government (the Mainland offices) have been actively promoting Hong Kong’s strengths, promoting exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as supporting Hong Kong people and enterprises to integrate into the overall development of the country. There are views that the Mainland offices can further leverage the role as an important bridge for “going global and attracting external investment” in promoting Hong Kong to align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan in a more proactive manner. On supporting Hong Kong residents and enterprises pursuing development in the Mainland, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as there are views pointing out that the Mainland offices are serving cities diverse in their characteristics, so that they have their own focus on work priorities, whether the Government has plans to formulate overall targets and establish a cross-office coordination mechanism for the Mainland offices with a view to coordinating resources more effectively as well as defining the overall service and support directions of the Mainland offices; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as the 2025 Policy Address has indicated that the Government will encourage Mainland enterprises to use Hong Kong in expanding their businesses overseas, whether the Government has plans to organise Hong Kong enterprises pursuing development in the Mainland to join forces with Mainland enterprises in tapping new markets, so as to make “Hong Kong Brands” shine in the Mainland and overseas; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) as it is learnt that the Mainland offices currently promote Hong Kong’s strengths and support Hong Kong people and enterprises in the Mainland through measures such as disseminating information, organising thematic activities, promoting youth exchange, and maintaining communication and liaison with the Mainland authorities, whether the Government has plans to introduce more proactive and targeted support policies apart from the aforesaid measures; if so, of the details (including the relevant performance indicators); if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) whether the Government has plans to enhance the support for associations of Hong Kong residents and chambers of Hong Kong enterprises in the Mainland, and further strengthen the liaison with associations of Hong Kong residents and chambers of Hong Kong enterprises in the Mainland through the associations of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland sector, such as collecting views regularly, organising thematic exchanges, as well as proactively paying attention to the difficulties of Hong Kong people and enterprises in the Mainland and assisting them in resolving such difficulties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
After consulting the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the consolidated response to the Hon Maggie Chan’s question is as follows:
(1) The major responsibilities of the Mainland Offices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government (the Mainland Offices) include enhancing liaison and communication between Hong Kong and the Central People’s Government as well as the provincial and municipal governments on the Mainland to promote exchange and co-operation; telling Hong Kong’s good stories on the Mainland to promote the unique characteristics of Hong Kong as well as the investment opportunities and business advantages under the national development plan and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, so as to encourage and attract Mainland enterprises and talents to establish presence in Hong Kong; fostering youth and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland; providing information and other appropriate support and assistance to Hong Kong residents and enterprises on the Mainland, etc.
As for the above tasks, the Mainland Offices have set annual key performance indicators which would be published in the Policy Address and the Budget. For 2026, the Mainland Offices will organise no less than 3 400 visits to Mainland authorities or bodies, attending no less than 290 speaking occasions, conducting no less than 350 media interviews or briefings, and participating in no less than 880 business and trade meetings.
The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, as the policy bureau of the HKSAR Government responsible for Mainland affairs, will oversee, coordinate and direct the Mainland Offices to effectively discharge their duties to ensure that they operate efficiently, and execute their work plans and provide a wide range of services in accordance with the targets.
(2) The 2025 Policy Address proposed to establish a one-stop platform by mobilising Hong Kong’s overseas offices, including those under InvestHK and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), as well as the Mainland Offices, and set up the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (Task Force) to encourage Mainland enterprises to use Hong Kong in expanding their businesses overseas. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development is overseeing the work of the Task Force and coordinating with various bureaux, departments and agencies in formulating proposals for enterprises looking to go global. The Task Force will also organise various investment promotion activities across mainland provinces and municipalities to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages, and to identify and attract mainland enterprises looking to go global to set up operations in Hong Kong. When they expand their business abroad in future, these enterprises can benefit from the Government’s “Economic and Trade Express” under which they will be better supported for overseas business missions and business matching activities through enhancement of collaboration among the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the overseas, InvestHK and the HKTDC.
(3) In addition to the above-mentioned promotional measures, the Mainland Offices collaborate with other Hong Kong institutions, including the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, etc. to formulate tailored work plans which respond to new opportunities arising from the national development, as well as the characteristics and circumstances of individual province, municipality and autonomous region. The aim is to provide appropriate support and services to Hong Kong people and businesses on the Mainland, helping them better integrate into national development strategy and develop locally. The Mainland Offices will also promote Hong Kong’s advantages and tell good stories of Hong Kong. For example, we collaborate with local governments, trade associations and Hong Kong chambers of commerce to organise different types of trade promotion events, cooperation and matching sessions, thematic seminars, study tours, experience-sharing forums and gatherings for Hong Kong businessmen. Hong Kong enterprises on the Mainland and Hong Kong businessmen interested in expanding into the Mainland market will be invited to actively participate in these activities, which will not only broaden their business networks but also provide them with opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the latest developments, policies, and development opportunities in the region concerned.
(4) The Mainland Offices have all along been striving to establish and maintain close liaison with associations, chambers of commerce, enterprises and student groups of Hong Kong people in their service areas, and proactively understand the situation of Hong Kong people working, studying and living therein and the difficulties they encountered through various economic, trade and cultural exchange activities being held from time to time. The Mainland Offices will provide appropriate support and assistance to Hong Kong people having regard to the actual situation and need, and reflect their demands to the relevant Mainland authorities. To assist Hong Kong people to better adapt to local life, the Mainland Offices have also compiled booklets of practical information on everyday life, with electronic version published on their websites and social media platforms, and provide Hong Kong residents on the Mainland with information on the latest Mainland laws and regulations, policies, major regional developments, etc. In addition, through the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre located in Guangzhou, the Mainland Offices promote Greater Bay Area opportunities to Hong Kong residents and businesses developing in the Greater Bay Area cities on the Mainland and provide various practical assistance.
Furthermore, the HKTDC visits Hong Kong enterprises on the Mainland from time to time to understand their business development needs and operational challenges, and organises relevant thematic events to provide them with trade and business support. The HKTDC has also launched the “GoGBA one-stop platform” and the “GoGBA” digital information platform to provide the business community with the latest information on the “9+2” city cluster of the Greater Bay Area, including policies, markets, industries, funding opportunities, and the latest developments in individual Bay Area city. A network of “GoGBA Business Support Centres” has also been established across all Greater Bay Area cities. In particular, the “GoGBA Business Support Centre” located in the concourse of Shenzhen Futian High-Speed Rail Station is jointly set up by the HKTDC, the People’s Government of Futian District, Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Guangdong.