China's 14th Five-Year Plan is powering a new era of growth for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), weaving national strategy with local strengths to unlock fresh opportunities in travel, trade and technology.
Key central policies have smoothed the flow of people and resources. Since 2021, ten additional cities on the Chinese mainland gained access to the Individual Visit Scheme for Hong Kong and Macao. At the same time, exit endorsements for high-caliber professionals in Greater Bay Area cities have opened doors for talent exchanges. The result? A significant uptick in visitor numbers that has revitalized retail, dining and tourism across the city.
Transportation links have also received a boost. Evening departures and morning arrivals on the Beijing–Hong Kong and Shanghai–Hong Kong high-speed sleeper trains now efficiently bridge major economic corridors—from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—streamlining business and tourism alike.
The HKSAR government has matched these moves with a push for “new quality productive forces.” The RAISe+ scheme now connects university research with real-world applications, while the HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund draws medium and large investors. The New Industrialization Support Scheme is laying the groundwork for smart production lines, cementing Hong Kong as one of Asia’s top biotech financing hubs. From multi-million-dollar IPOs to the launch of a Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox, the city’s innovation ecosystem is firing on all cylinders.
Hong Kong’s strengths go beyond policy. Backed by the Chinese mainland and integrated into the Greater Bay Area, the city serves as a natural bridge to global markets. It attracts companies from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, linking mainland construction firms to regional infrastructure projects and channeling financial support to overseas energy initiatives.
Collaborative zones like the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone and the Northern Metropolis are moving research, talent and capital across borders. Firms are choosing Hong Kong as their hub to expand worldwide, invest back into the GBA and tap new talent pools—creating synergies that outpace isolated efforts.
As the 14th Five-Year Plan continues through 2025, Hong Kong is set to deepen its role as a gateway between the Chinese mainland and the world. With a clear path forward, the city stands ready to turn policy support into tangible growth and help shape the next decades of global connectivity.
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China's 14th Five-Year Plan opens gateway of opportunity for Hong Kong
cgtn.com
