HKTDC Research | 3 Jun 2015

Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone: Opportunities for Hong Kong

Summary

The GDFTZ is making great efforts to deepen financial co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. These include promoting cross-boundary renminbi business, a development that is bound to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an offshore renminbi centre. A plan to launch pilot reforms of foreign exchange control will also help expedite the pace of internationalisation of the renminbi. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong business platform is the top choice for mainland enterprises, especially Guangdong enterprises, in their “going out” strategy of making outward direct investment. Coupled with the fact that the GDFTZ is proactively leading the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region to “go out” and undergo transformation and upgrade, this development will create more opportunities for Hong Kong service suppliers.

 

 

Positioning: In-depth Co-operation Between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau

 

Reducing Market Access Restrictions on Foreign Investment

Special administrative measures relating to national security, public order, public culture, financial prudence, government procurement, subsidies, special procedures and tax-related matters not on the negative list are subject to existing provisions. Foreign investment concerning national security is subject to review in accordance with the Tentative Measures for the National Security Review of Foreign Investment in Free Trade Zones.

Hong Kong Companies Entitled to Both FTZ and CEPA Concessions

Based on China’s Industrial Classification for the National Economy[3], the negative list issued by the State Council contains 50 project types under 15 categories, with 122 items subject to special administrative measures. It is specifically stated that Hong Kong investors investing in the FTZs must comply with the negative list. However, if the measures offered under CEPA and its supplements are applicable to the FTZs – and prove to be more open and preferential for qualified investors – then the CEPA provisions shall prevail[4]. In light of this, Hong Kong investors should check the provisions set out in CEPA and the FTZ negative list and choose whichever is more beneficial to them in developing their market access to the mainland and Guangdong.

Meanwhile, the Agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Achieving Basic Liberalisation of Trade in Services in Guangdong (the Guangdong Agreement), signed under the CEPA framework and which came into effect in March 2015, contains both negative and positive listings for Hong Kong companies entering the Guangdong market. Under the Guangdong agreement, Guangdong opens up 153 service sub-sectors to Hong Kong, accounting for 95.6% of the 160 sub-sectors[5]. Some of its measures are even more liberal than the FTZ negative list. Thus Hong Kong companies entering the Guangdong market can simultaneously enjoy the liberal market access requirement of the GDFTZ as well as the preferential measures offered in CEPA and the Guangdong Agreement. In light of this, Hong Kong companies have an advantage over foreign investors, by being able to expand into the Guangdong and even the entire mainland markets in greater breadth and depth. For instance:

• Mining, Prospecting and Exploration

  Under the CEPA Guangdong Agreement where access to “services incidental to mining” in Guangdong has been added, Hong Kong companies are granted national treatment. However, according to the negative list applicable to GDFTZ, foreign investors are still subject to various restrictive measures in areas such as certain types of prospecting and exploration, oil and natural gas exploration, and rare earth and metal ore mining and processing.[6]

• Manufacturing

  With the exception of those industries classified under the prohibited category in the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment in Industries, Hong Kong companies are allowed under CEPA to provide “services incidental to manufacturing” on the mainland. These take the form of equity joint ventures, contractual joint ventures or wholly owned enterprises, with no restrictions on taking controlling stakes. However, foreign investors wishing to invest in manufacturing projects in the GDFTZ – which are not even listed under the prohibited category[7] in the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment in Industries, such as aircraft building, shipbuilding, automotive/rail transport equipment manufacturing, and communications equipment manufacturing – are still subject to various restrictions like taking controlling stakes.[8]

• Gas, Heat and Water Supply

  CEPA stipulates that when Hong Kong companies engage in the construction or operation of gas, heating, water supply and drainage networks in Guangdong cities larger than one million people, the mainland party must take a controlling stake in the project. But in the GDFTZ, if foreign investors wish to engage in such business in Chinese cities with a population of more than 500,000, the mainland party must take a controlling stake.

• Telecommunications Services

  Under the positive list of the CEPA Guangdong Agreement, Hong Kong service suppliers are allowed to establish joint-venture or wholly owned enterprises in Guangdong to provide telecommunication services on the mainland including multi-party communications, store and forward, call centre services, and Internet access services for online users (with business scope limited to Guangdong Province).

  By contrast, foreign investors in the GDFTZ are only allowed to invest in those telecommunications services liberalised under the commitments made when China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). Also, the negative list states that foreign equity ratio in value-added telecommunications services (except for e-commerce) may not exceed 50%. The mainland stake in basic telecommunications services may not be less than 51%.

• Banking

  CEPA has listed in detail the lower market access requirements on Hong Kong banks entering the mainland. For instance, Hong Kong banks wishing to set up wholly owned banks or branches on the mainland must have assets totalling US$6 billion at the end of the year preceding their application. This is much lower than the US$20 billion threshold imposed on foreign banks. Besides, the Guangdong Agreement further removes the minimum operation period and profit requirements on Hong Kong banks wishing to establish business arms in Guangdong to conduct renminbi business. The minimum amount requirement on operating funds that incorporated banks established on the mainland must transfer to their Guangdong branches has also been lifted.

  In the banking sector, the FTZ negative list sets out the shareholding company type requirements as well as the qualifications and equity ratio of the banking institutions. For example, foreign-invested financial institutions must satisfy a total assets requirement of a certain amount. Some restrictive conditions are also imposed on foreign banks, such as the head office of foreign bank branches must transfer operating funds to them at no cost, and the funds must exist in a specific form meeting corresponding administration requirements. The relevant departments have yet to promulgate the relevant detailed regulations and measures.

• Legal Services

  Under CEPA, Hong Kong law firms that have set up representative offices on the mainland are allowed to operate in association with between one and three mainland law firms. The positive list in the Guangdong Agreement stipulates specifically that in Guangdong, mainland law firms can assign mainland-practising lawyers to the representative offices of Hong Kong law firms to act as mainland legal consultants. Meanwhile, Hong Kong law firms can assign Hong Kong lawyers to mainland law firms to act as Hong Kong-related or cross-boundary legal consultants. Also, Hong Kong law firms can operate in partnership with their mainland counterparts in Qianhai, Nansha and Hengqin in Guangdong on a pilot basis.

  However, foreign law firms can only set up representative offices in the GDFTZ and are not allowed to handle Chinese legal matters, nor employ Chinese lawyers.

• Technical Testing and Analysis

  Under CEPA, Hong Kong testing organisations accredited by the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) are allowed to co-operate with designated mainland organisations to undertake testing of all products processed in Hong Kong that require China Compulsory Certification (CCC). These organisations can also undertake testing on food items and other products subject to voluntary certification in Guangdong on a pilot basis. Moreover, the positive list in the Guangdong Agreement accords them the right to co-operate with designated mainland organisations to undertake testing under CCC of audio and visual products that are designed and prototyped in Hong Kong and processed or manufactured in Guangdong. But no such measures are offered to foreign industry players.

• Individually-owned Businesses

  According to CEPA, Hong Kong permanent residents with Chinese citizenship may set up individually-owned businesses in various mainland cities and provinces to engage in designated business without being subject to the approval procedures applicable to foreign investments or any restrictions on the number of employees and the business area (excluding franchise operations). The Guangdong Agreement further expands the designated business scope for Hong Kong individually-owned businesses.

  However, the FTZ negative list states that foreign investors may not engage in business activities as investors in individually-owned businesses or individually wholly-owned enterprises in the FTZ.

(Note: For details and measures on the above, please refer to relevant documents such as the FTZ negative list and CEPA.)

Advance Liberalisation of Trade in Services between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau

In addition to market access, the overall GDFTZ plan also states clearly that, under the CEPA framework (and the Guangdong Agreement), efforts will be made to deepen liberalisation of trade in services between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau and to further expand the scope of opening up the service sector to Hong Kong and Macau. Action to be taken includes exploring the possibility of removing or liberalising the access restrictions on qualification criteria, equity ratio, and business scope imposed on Hong Kong and Macau investors, with an emphasis on services serving the financial, transportation and shipping, commercial, professional and technical sectors. Meanwhile, steps will also be taken to look into the feasibility of offering a special arrangement between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau that mutually recognises the professional qualifications of employees in the service sector. In view of this, Hong Kong companies entering the service market in Guangdong, while capitalising on CEPA’s facilitation measures, should also pay close attention to the detailed facilitation measures introduced by the GDFTZ.

Strengthen International Trade Functions

Meanwhile, the GDFTZ will encourage Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau to jointly strengthen trade ties with countries and regions along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in a move to expand the international market. Enterprises will be encouraged to set up headquarters in the GDFTZ and establish operations centres integrating the functions of logistics, trade and settlement. Action will be taken to jointly develop offshore trade with Hong Kong and Macau. Efforts will also be made to strengthen co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in the convention and exhibition industry. This will allow industry players to set up bonded goods displays and trading platforms in special customs supervision zones under the premise of strictly implementing the policy of levying taxes on import and export goods. Other measures include:

- Support parallel import of automotives on a pilot basis;
- Encourage the development of innovative financing and leasing business;
- Support development of futures bonded delivery and warehouse receipt financing in special customs supervision zones;
- Develop an innovative interactive development mode for e-commerce between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau; actively develop cross-boundary e-commerce;
- Set up an intellectual property operation centre for the south China region;
- Actively undertake service outsourcing, and advance the development of such services as software development, industrial design and information management;
- Strengthen Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau co-operation in product inspection and testing technology as well as standards formulation.

As for building a logistics hub on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the GDFTZ will set up an interactive mechanism for seaports and airports in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. It will explore the feasibility of aligning regulations and standards with Hong Kong and Macau in freight forwarding and freight transportation. The GDFTZ will also proactively develop such industries as international maritime transport, international ships management, international crew services, and international shipbroking. Support will be given to Hong Kong and Macau enterprises to invest in international ocean-going and air transport services. Industry players will be allowed to operate, on a trial basis, the business of consolidation and transit of air courier items from foreign countries, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Meanwhile, action will be taken to liberalise the equity ratio restriction on Chinese-foreign contractual joint ventures engaged in international shipping.

Hong Kong is a trade and shipping hub in the Asia-Pacific region, and an important gateway to the international market for Guangdong and other provinces in China. The city hosts large numbers of ship owners, consignors and traders, and has developed a full spectrum of shipping services: shipping financing, insurance, broking, ships management and related legal services. Many Hong Kong companies conduct international trade in Guangdong and, by capitalising on the development of Hong Kong’s trading and shipping services support industry, have broadened the horizons of Hong Kong’s trading and shipping sectors.

For instance, even before it was officially launched in the GDFTZ, the Nansha Area of Guangzhou had made it a priority to develop producer services. This included relying on Hong Kong’s position as an international financial, trade and shipping centre to promote Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau co-operation in related industries. As at the end of April 2015, about 800 Hong Kong-invested enterprises had established a presence in Nansha. Among them is Kingboard Chemical Holdings Ltd, whose petrochemical production and distribution project in Nansha carries out the production and distribution of chemical products such as epoxy and Tetrabromob ispheno1-A. The Nansha Cargo Park Co Ltd in Panyu, Guangzhou, invested and set up by the Henry Fok Ying Tung Group, engages in integrated logistics in Nansha, including wharf operation, bonded supervision, logistics and delivery, freight forwarding and insurance, and logistics solution consultation. Meanwhile, Enpro Supply Chain Management Ltd of Hong Kong operates a plastics packaging supply chain centre in the Nansha Bonded Logistics Park. The firm takes advantage of the bonded logistics facilities in Nansha and the international shipping network of Hong Kong to provide a one-stop plastics packaging supply chain, as well as regional delivery services for the Chinese mainland and Southeast and Northeast Asia.

As the GDFTZ strengthens trade ties with economies along the Maritime Silk Road jointly with Hong Kong and Macau in the hope of becoming a logistics hub on the Maritime Silk Road, this is bound to provide Hong Kong industry players with extra room for development, as well as enhancing Hong Kong’s position as a trade and shipping centre in the Asia Pacific.

 

 

Trade in Goods: Cross-border E-commerce Operators and CEPA Concessions One of the focusses where trade in goods is concerned is cross-border e-commerce import. Currently, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are among the designated pilot cities authorised to conduct e-commerce imports[9]. Some cross-border e-commerce operators have already started business in the Qianhai and Nansha sub-zones in the GDFTZ. These industry players enjoy facilitation in customs clearance, inspection and quarantine for their imports, and also take advantage of the FTZ’s bonded import and warehousing arrangements to lower costs and to apply for personal postal articles tax for their goods. Goods imported into China under “general trade” are subject to import tariffs and 17% VAT. But cross-border e-commerce operators in pilot bonded areas may adopt the “bonded reserve goods mode”, whereby merchandise sourced from foreign countries in bulk can be delivered to designated cross-border warehouses in the bonded area first. After the consumer has placed an order online, the e-commerce operator will then complete customs clearance procedures and make a customs declaration for the goods concerned to be imported as “personal articles” and pay personal postal articles tax. After verification by Customs, the merchandise is delivered to the consumer by courier companies. Currently, four tax rates apply to personal postal articles: 10%: e.g. books and newspapers; publications; original audio tapes, video tapes; gold, silver and articles thereof; food and beverages; 20%: e.g. textiles; audio-visual equipment and other electrical appliances; bicycles; general watches and clocks; 30%: e.g. golf gear; high-end watches (priced over Rmb10,000); 50%: e.g. cigarettes, liquor, cosmetics. However, cross-border e-commerce operators conducting imports in the form of “personal articles” must meet the above criteria of placing orders online and delivery by courier company, as well as observe the principle of “for personal use and in reasonable quantity”. The value of personal postal articles carried by an international traveller is limited to Rmb1000[10] per trip, otherwise, these articles would be treated as imported goods under “general trade” and are subject to customs clearance and payment of import tariff and VAT[11]. The import of “personal articles” is tax free if the tax amount is below Rmb50. The lower 10% personal postal articles tax rate applies to certain goods, but for other items it remains as high as 20% or more. However, if the goods meet the Hong Kong origin requirement, Hong Kong companies may consider taking advantage of the zero tariff rate concession offered under CEPA and paying the 17% VAT[12]. As to which import arrangement is more advantageous, it all depends on the type of product imported, the applicable tax rate, the country of origin, and the sales strategy of the company concerned.

 

 

Deepen Financial Co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau

The GDFTZ devotes great efforts to deepening financial co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. It implements financial reform and innovation in order to strengthen and give full play to Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau’s joint role in advancing the mainland’s financial reform and innovation. It also promotes liberalisation of trade in services between the three places and propels economic transformation and upgrade. Detailed development directions include:

• Promoting development of cross-boundary renminbi business between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau:

  • To turn the renminbi into the major denomination and settlement currency for cross-border large-amount transactions and investments between the GDFTZ and Hong Kong, Macau and foreign countries.

  • To advance two-way renminbi financing between the GDFTZ and Hong Kong and Macau.

  • To allow banking financial institutions in the GDFTZ to conduct cross-boundary renminbi lending business with their Hong Kong and Macau counterparts.

  • To allow non-banking financial institutions such as securities companies, fund management companies, futures companies and insurance companies in the GDFTZ to conduct cross-boundary renminbi business with their Hong Kong and Macau counterparts.

• Further opening up to Hong Kong and Macau:

  • To look into the possibility of introducing cross-boundary renminbi credit assets transfer business under the CEPA framework.

  • To improve the negative-list management approach for the financial sector in a bid to promote further liberalisation of the financial services sector in the GDFTZ to Hong Kong and Macau.

• Strengthening financial services for enterprises “going out”:

  • This includes giving support to financial institutions in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau to jointly set up renminbi overseas investment funds in the GDFTZ.

In addition to promoting Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau financial co-operation, the GDFTZ will also enhance investment and financing facilitation and make use of innovative measures to meet the financial needs of enterprises in the FTZ. These include:

- To launch a new management model for local and foreign currency accounts, and introduce innovations in such areas as account opening, account business scope, funds transfer, and dynamic monitoring mechanism.
- To look into the possibility of rolling out innovative cross-boundary financing business by way of free trade account and other risk control methods.
- To introduce, under the premise of risk control, foreign exchange control pilot reforms with emphasis on renminbi convertibility under the capital account.
- To allow organisations in the FTZ to bring in, under the macro-prudential framework, local and foreign currency funds from abroad and to issue local and foreign currency bonds offshore.
- To introduce on a pilot basis renminbi convertibility under the capital account within a set limit, allowing qualified organisations to carry out transactions such as direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, bond instruments and financial investment within the set limit.

 

Enhancing Hong Kong’s Position as an Offshore RMB Centre In recent years, many financial institutions in Hong Kong have been making use of the mainland’s increasingly open financial policies and CEPA’s market liberalisations to gradually participate in the mainland financial market and develop business. By doing so, they accumulate practical operation experience in the hope of acting as first-movers when the mainland further liberalises its relevant policies, as well as identifying business opportunities brought about by liberalisation. For instance, Qianhai, in Shenzhen, had already identified trial financial reforms and innovation as the focusses of its liberalisation policies even before the GDFTZ was officially launched. The aim is to create a modern services systems and mechanisms innovation zone, as well as a pioneer zone for close co-operation between Hong Kong and the mainland. It also explored the possibility of broadening the channels for diverting renminbi funds from overseas to support the development of offshore renminbi business in Hong Kong, and to build an innovative pilot zone for cross-boundary renminbi business. As of 30 April 2015, some 1,335 Hong Kong-invested enterprises had established a presence in Qianhai, with the total registered capital reaching Rmb215.4 billion[13]. Among the different industries, the financial sector is one of the major areas of Qianhai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong co-operation. For instance, commercial banks including the HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, Bank of East Asia, Standard Chartered Bank and China Merchants Bank have set up branches in Qianhai. Many of these banks make use of Qianhai’s advantages to develop cross-boundary renminbi business and participate in lending projects related to Qianhai. Since Qianhai launched its cross-boundary renminbi lending projects on 22 January 2013, the total cross-boundary loans obtained by Qianhai enterprises from Hong Kong reached Rmb82.6 billion by the end of 2014[14]. These loans have supported the development of the real economy in Qianhai, and have contributed to financial innovations of the existing currency supply mechanism and renminbi exchange rate system. The renminbi’s role in cross-boundary transactions, as well as the renminbi lending business of Hong Kong’s financial institutions, have been strengthened, effectively further enhancing Hong Kong’s position as an offshore renminbi trading centre. As the GDFTZ further implements reforms and opening up to deepen financial co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, this move helps to promote cross-boundary renminbi business. The possibility of further opening up the FTZ to Hong Kong and Macau under the CEPA framework is also bound to bring about greater market opportunities for Hong Kong industry players.

 

 

Engine for Regional Development

The GDFTZ will also develop into an important platform leading the development of the Pearl River Delta and other regions, including:

• Leading the transformation and upgrade of the PRD:

  • To build public service platforms for technology R&D, industrial design and intellectual property serving the transformation and upgrade of processing trade.

• Creating a Pan-PRD integrated service zone:

  • Relying on closer co-operation with Hong Kong and Macau, efforts will be made to encourage enterprises in the GDFTZ to conduct co-ordinated international and domestic trade, support and foster integrated foreign trade services enterprises, and provide such services as customs clearance, financing, tax refunds and international settlement for small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Building an important window for mainland enterprises “going out”:

  • Relying on the advantages of Hong Kong and Macau in financial services, information, international trade networks, and risk management, action will be taken to build the GDFTZ into a window and integrated service platform for mainland enterprises and individuals embracing the “going out” strategy, while support will be given to mainland enterprises and individuals to participate in the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Helping Guangdong Undergo Transformation and Upgrade in “Going Out” Guangdong has long been one of the important provinces in China’s foreign economic and trade co-operation. The province plays an active role in promoting the development of the south China region and pan-PRD. It is also a major source of China’s outward investment, especially non-financial investment. It is worth noting that currently a majority of Guangdong enterprises are eager to undergo transformation and upgrade. They want to make use of the “going out” strategy, and “bring in” the advantages of their business partners, in order to develop the mainland and overseas markets simultaneously – and the Hong Kong service platform is the top choice of those enterprises. According to an HKTDC survey conducted in 2013 in Guangdong province on the “going out” strategy and “transformation and upgrade”, more than 90% of the surveyed enterprises indicated that they would consider, or had already, increased investment as a way of boosting competitiveness. Their most sought-after service support included financial and professional services such as brand design, product development, marketing, business consultancy, and legal/accounting and banking/financing. Meanwhile, 91% of the enterprises indicated that they would “go out” to seek co-operation partners. The majority of enterprises expressed interest in sourcing services and business partners from Hong Kong, accounting for 65% of the surveyed enterprises[15]. Hong Kong service suppliers have handled matters relating to trade and investment in Hong Kong and foreign markets on behalf of mainland enterprises for many years. The GDFTZ is leading the PRD region in transforming and upgrading, and is becoming an important window for the mainland’s “going out” policy. It can be expected that more detailed measures will be introduced to help enterprises in the FTZ make use of the Hong Kong platform to acquire services and co-operation partners. This is bound to create more opportunities for Hong Kong service suppliers.

 

 

Opportunities for Hong Kong

Under the premise of in-depth co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, the GDFTZ has liberalised market access for foreign investment. The record filing system has been introduced on top of the negative list in order to streamline foreign investment administration. This, coupled with the liberalisation and concessionary measures offered to Hong Kong under CEPA, has greatly expanded the scope for Hong Kong companies to enter and develop the Guangdong and the entire mainland markets.

Under CEPA and the Guangdong Agreement, Hong Kong already enjoys market access and preferential measures in many sectors, and is a step ahead of foreign investors in expanding the increasingly buoyant mainland market. Preferential policies applicable to Hong Kong are wide ranging. They cover services incidental to mining and manufacturing, as well as services in the areas of telecommunications, finance, legal, and technical testing and analysis services.

The GDFTZ’s liberalisation measures provide Hong Kong companies with even more options to develop the mainland market. For instance, where trade in goods is concerned, Hong Kong companies can choose either the GDFTZ’s facilitation measures and bonded arrangements offered to cross-border e-commerce operators, or the zero tariff preferential treatment granted to Hong Kong products under CEPA. Companies can select the right channel for selling to the mainland market based on their situation.

Meanwhile, the GDFTZ deepens the liberalisation of trade in services between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in the hope of achieving breakthroughs in such sectors as finance, transportation and shipping, trade and commerce, professional services and technical services. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau are encouraged to jointly develop the international market, and to forge themselves into an important hub for trade along the Maritime Silk Road. The GDFTZ has introduced detailed development measures including: supporting parallel import of automobiles on a pilot basis; setting up an intellectual property operation centre in the south China region; advancing the development of industrial design; and supporting Hong Kong and Macau enterprises in investing in shipping and air transport services. Against this backdrop, it can be expected that enterprises in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau will have increased business co-operation opportunities in these sectors. They can utilise their individual resource advantages in market, talent, management and financing to complement one another, and make more use of the services offered by Hong Kong. This can help Hong Kong consolidate its roles as a trade/shipping hub in the Asia Pacific and as an important regional trade centre for technical services and intellectual property rights.

With regard to the financial sector, the GDFTZ devotes great efforts to deepening financial co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and further opening up to Hong Kong and Macau financial services suppliers. This can help Hong Kong’s financial sector to enter the mainland market and enhance the city’s position as an international financial centre. In particular, the GDFTZ’s efforts in promoting the development of cross-boundary renminbi business between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau are bound to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an offshore renminbi trading centre. Also, the GDFTZ’s action in introducing foreign exchange control pilot reforms with an emphasis on renminbi convertibility under the capital account serves to accelerate the pace of internationalisation of the currency. Under the premise of deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau co-operation, it can be expected that Hong Kong will play an important part. In view of this, Hong Kong industry players should pay close attention to the detailed measures announced by the mainland so as to effectively capture the right business opportunities.

The Hong Kong business platform is also the prime choice of mainland enterprises undergoing transformation and upgrade in their pursuit for “going out”. Possessing such advantages as free capital flow, rich international communication resources, and international-level professional services, Hong Kong can offer mainland enterprises, especially Guangdong enterprises, a full range of services. As the GDFTZ leads the PRD region in undergoing transformation and upgrade, coupled with the fact that the “going out” policy encourages outward direct investment, this development trend is set to provide Hong Kong service suppliers with more opportunities.

Appendix: Functional Positioning of Sub-zones

Nansha Area of Guangzhou

The Nansha New Area, or GDFTZ (Nansha), is blessed with the policy advantages of being a state-level new area, a state-level economic and technological development zone, a bonded port area, and a new and high-tech development zone. With a sound industrial foundation, Nansha New Area is one of China’s three shipbuilding bases, a national auto and spare parts manufacturing and export base, as well as a nuclear power equipment manufacturing base in the PRD region. Where scientific research is concerned, the research base of the Guangzhou Institute of Industry Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences is located in Nansha. It has built a technology innovation platform for numerical-control equipment technology research and development, and modern logistics industry planning services. It has also been rated as a state-level technology transfer demonstration base. Moreover, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Fok Ying Tung Foundation have jointly established a facility for promoting the internationalisation of traditional Chinese medicine in the Nansha New Area.

GDFTZ (Nansha) will devote great efforts to creating a regulated international business environment in line with new international practice. It aims to take the lead in implementing free trade in services with Hong Kong and Macau. Building an international shipping and logistics centre with comprehensive international trade functions and strong financial innovation ability is another goal. It will also develop into a demonstration base for technology innovation co-operation between countries and regions along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

GDFTZ (Nansha) comprises seven functional sub-zones: (1) an international shipping development and co-operation zone; (2) a financial and commercial development experimental zone; (3) a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau integrated development experimental zone; (4) an international education and medical co-operation experimental zone; (5) a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau scientific and technological innovation and co-operation zone; (6) a comprehensive outbound investment service zone; and (7) a processing trade transformation and upgrade service zone.

Qianhai-Shekou Area of Shenzhen

Qianhai and Shekou are just across the sea from Hong Kong. Leveraging on the close co-operation in modern services between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and taking advantage of Hong Kong’s rule of law and level of internationalisation, as well as its advanced port development, GDFTZ (Qianhai-Shekou) will give emphasis to developing new strategic services such as finance, modern logistics, information, and technology services. It aims to transform into a pilot demonstration base for China’s financial sector to open up to the world, an important base for trade in services worldwide and an international hub port of China.

Hengqin Area of Zhuhai

The Hengqin New Area, or GDFTZ (Hengqin) is linked to Macau via the Lianhua Bridge. It implements an innovative supervision mode of round-the-island real-time monitoring. Capitalising on the co-operation with higher education institutes such as the University of Macau and the development of the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Zhuhai, GDFTZ (Hengqin) will give emphasis to developing a number of industries. These include: tourism, leisure and health; commercial and financial services; culture, science and education; and new and high technology. Action will be taken to set up a pilot zone to open-up cultural and education services and an international commercial services and leisure tourism base, as well as create a new carrier for the diversified development of Macau’s economy.

 

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[1]  At the State Council Executive Meeting held on 12 December 2014, it was adopted that the Guangdong Free Trade Zone was to be established. Occupying an area of 116.2 sq km, the GDFTZ covers three sub-zones: (i) Nansha Area of Guangzhou (60 sq km, including the 7.06-sq km Guangzhou Nansha Bonded Port Area); (ii) Qianhai-Shekou Area of Shenzhen (28.2 sq km, including the 3.71-sq km Shenzhen Qianhai Bay Bonded Port Area); and (iii) Hengqin Area of Zhuhai (28 sq km).

[2]  Here CEPA refers to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and its supplements.

[3]  China’s Industrial Classification GB/T4754-2011

[4]  Investments from Macau and Taiwan are subject to the provisions in their respective arrangement/agreement signed with the mainland.

[5]  For details, please visit the website of Hong Kong government Trade and Industry Department at http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/legaltext/files/Info_Note_2014.pdf

[6]  The sector of “services incidental to mining” under CEPA is defined in accordance with the WTO classification of service industries, while the mining industry mentioned in the FTZ Negative List is classified in accordance with China’s Industrial Classification. The areas covered by the two classifications are not identical.

[7]  Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment in Industries 2015.

[8]  The sector of “services incidental to manufacturing” under CEPA is defined in accordance with the WTO classification of service industries, while the manufacturing industry mentioned in the FTZ Negative List is classified in accordance with China’s Industrial Classification. The areas covered by the two classifications are not identical.

[9]  Currently, pilot cities in the mainland where cross-border e-commerce imports can be conducted include: Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

[10]  The maximum value of personal postal articles carried by individuals travelling to and from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan is Rmb800. In case the value of an article exceeds the set limit, after Customs has examined and verified that the article is really for personal use, it can still go through customs clearance procedures as a personal article provided that it is the only item carried by the traveller at the time.

[11] For details, please see the Circular of the General Administration of Customs on Pilot Online Shopping Bonded Import Mode in Cross-border E-Commerce (Shu Ke Han [2013] No.59), and the Notice on Supervision over Cross-border E-Commerce Import and Export Goods and Articles (GAC Announcement (2014) No.56).

[12]  For details on zero tariff rate concession and Hong Kong origin requirement under CEPA, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Government Trade and Industry Department: http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/index.html

[13]  Source: Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone

[14]  Source: Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone

[15]  For more details, please refer to HKTDC Research’s article Guangdong: Hong Kong service opportunities amid China’s “going out” strategy and report China’s “Going Out” policy: Guangdong’s demand for professional services

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