Greater Bay Area Measures Announced For HK People

Beijing on Friday approved a series of measures on the Greater Bay Area initiative in a bid to attract Hong Kong people to work in the nine participating Guangdong cities.

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, announced the eight measures endorsed by the central government, after she attended a high-level meeting in Beijing over the Greater Bay Area initiative.

She said Vice-Premier Han Zheng, who chaired the meeting, had pushed for the policies and hopes to roll them out one after another, as soon as they’re ready.

One involves giving tax subsidies to Hong Kong professionals who go to work in the Guangdong cities.

That will effectively allow them to pay the lower tax amount according to Hong Kong tax regime.

Hong Kong people who stay on the mainland for more than 183 days a year, also stand to receive tax benefits on their personal income across the border. A recent rule change required Hong Kong residents - who stay or earn their main income on the mainland for more than 183 days a year - to pay tax on their worldwide income.

Lam said the way the number of days is counted would be relaxed to give Hong Kong people more flexibility. She said, if a person made a work trip and stayed for less than 24 hours, then it wouldn't count as a day for tax purposes.

She added that the authorities will also roll out different schemes and platforms, to encourage youngsters to start businesses in the Greater Bay Area, and more people to work in the Guangdong public sector.

In a statement, the SAR government said policy bureaux and departments would listen to the public on how to take forward the development of the Greater Bay Area, so that any measures introduced, would better suit the needs of the community.