Downtown Shenzhen is only a 45-minute drive from Hong Kong. The government of Shenzhen plans, over the next 15 years, to modernize Shenzhen in accordance with socialist ideals and to develop the city into a key regional and international metropolis.
More than 13,000 expatriates live and work in Shenzhen on a long-term basis, which has been key to the increasing internationalization of the city. The expatriates come from 111 counties; most are representatives sent by foreign companies to China, employees of foreign-invested enterprises, cultural workers, teachers, and foreign students. In 2005, the number of foreigners who entered the country through various checkpoints in Shenzhen totaled 3.4 million. About 5 percent of the city’s residential buildings were purchased by foreigners and people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation
Because of their geological proximity, Shenzhen and Hong Kong have been mutually dependent economically for a long time. Eggs, fish, meat, vegetables, dairy products and other daily necessities in Hong Kong are sourced mainly from Shenzhen. Every year, Shenzhen Reservoir channels a total of 1.1 billion cubic meters of water from the Dongjiang River to Hong Kong. The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, located in eastern Shenzhen, transmits electricity to Hong Kong. Of the overseas investment in Shenzhen, above 70 percent is from Hong Kong. Many companies from Shenzhen have made their initial public offerings in Hong Kong.
In recent years, the government of Shenzhen has developed the concept of “Learning from Hong Kong and Serving Hong Kong,” It has established a mechanism for communication and consultation on key issues with the government of Hong Kong. Mutual cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has been strengthened in fields covering checkpoint control, border infrastructure construction, trade, science and technology, education, finance, and tourism. In April 2007, Shenzhen and Hong Kong completed the third phase of their joint project of the Shenzhen River cleanup, which significantly raised the flood control standard in the Shenzhen River region such that infrequent but major floods can be controlled. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor, which will be put into use in July 2007, will promote the ties between Shenzhen and Hong Kong even more closely.
