HK youth see brighter startup prospects in GD

A recent survey on attitudes to the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area revealed that Hong Kong youth believe Guangdong province provides better opportunities for startups than Hong Kong.

The research organizations suggest housing aid for Hong Kong youth in the bay area.

Hong Kong Guangdong Youth Association (HKGYA) and Proactive Think Tank published their latest survey on Hong Kong youth’s participation in the Greater Bay Area initiative on Thursday.

More than 1,100 Hong Kong people aged 15 to 35 participated in the survey through telephone interviews or questionnaires; 28 percent of participants are working or studying in Guangdong; the remainder are based in Hong Kong.

The study showed that more than half of Hong Kong’s youths who are studying or working in Guangdong plan to continue their study, work or start their own business in the province.

Both participants based in Hong Kong and Guangdong believe there are better opportunities to start their own businesses in Guangdong than their home city.

HKGYA and the think tank suggested the special administrative region government cooperate with the Guangdong provincial government to set up a Greater Bay Area development fund to create more startup incubators in the bay area. The SAR government is also urged to provide housing assistance for Hong Kong young people who work or start their own businesses in the bay area.

The organizations also suggested the central government provide mainland ID cards for Hong Kong people who work and live in the Greater Bay Area. This will make living and traveling on the Chinese mainland much easier.

They said the relevant proposals have been submitted to the Chief Executive’s Office and the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau.