The Dream Factory of China

Working and living on the Chinese mainland is a great experience for many Hong Kong young people, not only because it has preserved some beautiful resorts for visitors but also because it provides more opportunities for entrepreneurs, said Cheung Loong-wah, a guest speaker at Thursday’s Hong Kong youth forum in Qianhai.

Cheung, who left Hong Kong to seek business opportunities in Beijing and Qianhai, told more than 500 Hong Kong college students who are currently studying in Guangdong Province that he found the profit of a single project and the chances to start companies on the mainland were much better than in Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong young people should step forward and have a bigger vision of the market. They should be encouraged to leave their comfort zones and grasp the opportunities created by national strategies to make successful careers,” said Cheung.

“The future of our industry very much relies on the development of technology. Shenzhen and a lot of other mainland cities have fostered many world-leading tech companies. Therefore, I believe the mainland holds great potential for entrepreneurs and is an ideal place to study big data. Additionally, there are many beautiful places for bicyclers and for entertainment,” said Chen Chi-ming, a Shenzhen-based Hong Kong entrepreneur.

At the forum, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying also discussed young Hong Kong people’s career plan. Leung said Hong Kong youth could build their careers on the mainland and also overseas as more Chinese companies are going global.

“For instance, decades ago Chinese people depended on Western technicians to build railways, but today we can export our technologies overseas. To carry forward the strategy of going global, Chinese builders need professionals to help manage their companies and explore the market, which is good timing for those young graduates who are starting their careers,” Leung said.

He also encouraged Hong Kong students to be confident about China’s development and to contribute more achievements in the future.

The forum was part of a series of events that invite Hong Kong students to visit five mainland cities and experience various regional cultures and working environments.

A video recording the journey will be broadcast in July on Phoenix Television, Yahoo, people.cn and Facebook, among others.