Starting from 1 January 2021, Hong Kong engineering construction consultant enterprises and professionals recognized by the relevant departments or statutory authorities of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are allowed to start business or practise in 9 mainland cities of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area after completing the registration procedures as set forth in the Interim Guidelines for the Management of Hong Kong Engineering Construction Consultant Enterprises and Professionals Starting Business and Practising in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cities issued by the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province at the end of last year.

1. What kind of enterprises can apply for the registration?
   
   The enterprises shall satisfy the following conditions:
   
   

   (1)	engaging in engineering construction consultant business such as construction survey, design, supervision, cost and real estate appraisal (except those prohibited by the laws and regulations of the mainland), including engineering and construction consulting companies, architectural firms, surveyors firms, landscape architects firms, and etc.
   (2)	being registered in Hong Kong;
   (3)	carrying out engineering construction consultant business in Hong Kong for no less than 2 consecutive years;
   (4)	being included on the List of Consultants of Architectural and Associated Consultants Selection Board or the List of Consultants of Engineering and Associated Consultants Selection Board of Hong Kong ;
   (5)	have purchased or promised to purchase the professional liability insurance that cover the mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area within 2 months after undertaking the engineering project.

   
   
2. What kind of professionals can apply for the registration?
   
   The professionals shall satisfy the following conditions:
   
   

   (1)	engaging in engineering construction consultant business such as construction survey, design, supervision, cost and real estate appraisal (except those prohibited by the laws and regulations of the mainland), including registered engineers, registered architects, registered surveyors and registered landscape architects in the field of engineering construction consultant in Hong Kong;
   (2)	being the residents of Hong Kong;
   (3)	being legally registered with the relevant registration authorities in Hong Kong.

   
   
3. How to apply?
   
   The application for registration shall be submitted through a website (www.gdcic.net). The applications of Hong Kong enterprises and their professionals shall be handled by the enterprises, while the applications of Hong Kong professionals that have joined the mainland enterprises shall be handled by the mainland enterprises. The competent authorities shall approve the application within 10 working days and the registration information shall be published on the website.
   
   
4. Business or practise is allowed in which cities?
   
   Hong Kong enterprises and professionals that have completed the registration procedures are allowed to start business or practise in 9 mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, i.e. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

KAIZEN Group is equipped with experienced and highly qualified professional consultants and is therefore well positioned to provide professional advices and services in respect of the formation and registration of company, application for various business licences and permits, company compliance, tax planning, audit and accounting in China. Please call and talk to our professional consultants for details.