A quiet revolution is underway along the banks of the Shenzhen River in South China. On March 1, a new law took effect in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, designed to remove long-standing regulatory barriers and boost cross-border scientific collaboration.
The Shenzhen Park Ordinance turns a national development blueprint into a practical "legal instruction manual" for innovation. Its goal: to enable a seamless flow of people, goods, data, and capital between Shenzhen and Hong Kong's neighboring tech parks.
Previously, scientists faced lengthy approvals for biological samples, costly customs delays for equipment, and uncertainty over data transfers. The new rules address these challenges with a supervision model called "freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line, and free flow within the zone."
At the "first line" between Shenzhen Park and Hong Kong, eligible foreign researchers can enter visa-free for short-term research. Scientific supplies can be carried by hand, bypassing traditional logistics, and imported equipment for self-use is exempt from tariffs and VAT.
The ordinance also introduces an "innovation fault-tolerance mechanism," shielding researchers from liability for good-faith projects that fail, effectively protecting them against the risks of exploring uncharted territory.
For international businesses, the law provides legal certainty that is highly valued over tax incentives. Enterprises invested in by Hong Kong or Macao can now resolve contract disputes under Hong Kong or Macao law, with arbitration in either city.
This "rule of choice" system, paired with streamlined data flows through new international channels, positions Hetao as a true "system special zone" for global science.
The timing is critical. Hong Kong's adjacent park fully opened in December, and a pedestrian bridge now connects the two sides. As one researcher noted, "Hong Kong has international talent and basic research; Shenzhen has space and market. In the next five years, they'll be bound together more deeply than ever."
The Hetao experiment is more than another tech hub—it aims to create a new model for cross-border collaboration.
Reporter | Cai Minling
Photo | Shenzhen Fabu
