The Dream Factory of China

Five Hong Kong students, who currently work in Qianhai as interns, expressed their desire to look for positions in Shenzhen after graduation at a klatch held at Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E Hub) on Monday.

They were among the nine attendees who have joined the Qianhai College Internship Plan this year.

During the discussion, the college students said they were satisfied about their internships in Qianhai except some said that the time should be longer.

Tang Kam-hung, a student from Hong Kong Baptist University, said his experience in Qianhai Joint Development Holdings Company will be helpful for his future development.

“It's a great opportunity for me to know more about the mainland, as there will be more interaction between me and people here in the near future,” Tang said. “Shenzhen has many high-tech companies and they develop very fast, which attracts many young people. And the living cost is relatively lower than that of Hong Kong.”

“I chose this program (the internship plan) because I'll have the opportunity to communicate with people from the mainland and overseas returnees. Also, I like mainland culture,” said Ho Duk-yong from Carnegie Mellon University. “To be honest, there aren't that many cultural differences between the mainland and Hong Kong and the entrepreneurial environment in Shenzhen is quite good. I believe Qianhai has a bright future and I prefer to work on the mainland.”

Ho works for the E Hub as a communication assistant.

Ho’s colleague, Liu Hiu-ching from Hang Seng Management College, said she was impressed by the development level of the mainland and thought there would be more chances in Shenzhen.

“I think working in a small company in Shenzhen can help me learn more than working in a mature Hong Kong enterprise. I am sure I’ll find a job on the mainland,” she said.

Co-organized by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong Commission of Youth, the plan aims to encourage communication between Hong Kong youth and mainland employees, and guide Hong Kong students in learning more about the mainland's working culture as well as themselves.

This year, over 600 positions in Shenzhen are being offered to Hong Kong interns and 268 interns were accepted by Qianhai companies.

According to Fung Ho-yin, chief assistant secretary general of the Home Affairs Bureau of the SAR government, over HK$100 million (US$13 million) was invested in building communication between Hong Kong and the mainland, and about 2,000 people will benefit from it.