Working and engaging with China including Hong Kong and Macao
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-23)

Guidance for UK nationals and organisations considering professional engagement with Chinese individuals and organisations.

The government will manage the UK’s relationship with China in a consistent, long-term and strategic way. As set out in the former Foreign Secretary’s statement on the China Audit (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/china-audit-foreign-secretarys-statement), direct engagement with China is essential to this.

However, effective engagement is not only a matter for government. Businesses, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and others all have a role to play. China is the second largest economy in the world, one of our largest trading partners, and our second largest research partner.

The government will support the full range of UK actors to engage confidently and responsibly with China, including with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region, while being open-eyed to any risks and ensuring security and resilience.

This guidance for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao contributes to that by bringing together China-specific and other relevant guidance on a range of fields. This is general guidance and not a substitute for legal advice. Companies are urged to carry out due diligence and assess their own risk before proceeding. This page will be updated as new guidance is produced.

Government guidance: China-specific
- Mainland China travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china)
- Hong Kong (SAR of China) travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hong-kong)
- Macao (SAR of China) travel advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/macao)
- Living in China (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-china): information for British citizens moving to or residing in China, including residency, healthcare, education and working rights
Business guidance for mainland China
- Exporting from the UK to China: a market guide (https://www.business.gov.uk/export-from-uk/markets/china/): guidance for UK businesses on exporting to mainland China, as well as existing and resolved trade barriers and opportunities
- Overseas Business Risk for China (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-china): an overview of political and economic risks for UK businesses operating in China, including regulatory, human rights, and legal considerations
- Trade barriers in China (https://www.check-international-trade-barriers.service.gov.uk/barriers/?resolved=0&location=cn): a consolidated list of reported trade barriers affecting UK exports to China, including regulatory, customs, and market access issues
- China duties and customs (https://www.check-duties-customs-exporting-goods.service.gov.uk/searchproduct?d=CN): information on customs procedures, tariffs, and duties applicable to UK goods entering China
- UK-China Intellectual Property Newsletter (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/china-ip-newsletter): a monthly newsletter covering recent intellectual property developments in China, published by the British Embassy in Beijing
- Report a Chinese export licence application (https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/263158/report-a-chinese-export-licence-application): complete this form to report a new priority Chinese export licence application to the UK government. You can also use this form to report changes to an existing licence application. This helps us track urgent cases and provide support to UK companies.
Business guidance for Hong Kong
- Exporting from the UK to Hong Kong: a market guide (https://www.business.gov.uk/export-from-uk/markets/hong-kong-china/): guidance for UK businesses on exporting to Hong Kong, existing and resolved trade barriers and opportunities
- Overseas Business Risk for Hong Kong (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-hong-kong/overseas-business-risk-hong-kong): an overview of political, economic, and regulatory risks for UK businesses operating in Hong Kong, including regulatory, human rights, and legal considerations
- Trade barriers in Hong Kong (https://www.check-international-trade-barriers.service.gov.uk/barriers/?resolved=0&location=hk): a consolidated list of reported trade barriers affecting UK exports to Hong Kong, including regulatory, customs, and market access issues
- Hong Kong duties and customs (https://www.check-duties-customs-exporting-goods.service.gov.uk/searchproduct?d=HK): information on customs procedures, tariffs, and duties applicable to UK goods entering Hong Kong
Business guidance for Macao
- Doing business in Macao: Macao trade and export guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exporting-to-macao/exporting-to-macao): guidance for UK businesses on exporting to, and doing business in, Macao
- Overseas Business Risk for Macao (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-macao/overseas-business-risk-macao): an overview of political and economic risks for UK businesses operating in Macao, including regulatory, human rights, and legal considerations
Other government guidance (China-specific)
- UK Research and Innovation China (https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/international-funding/our-international-offices/ukri-china/): guidance from the UK’s representative office in China supporting UK-China research and innovation partnerships, providing advice, and facilitating low-risk collaboration between institutions
- National risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-risk-assessment-of-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing-2020): an assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risk in the UK, including mainland China and Hong Kong (page 34) (updated version due in later in 2025)
- National Crime Agency: Chinese underground banking and ‘Daigou’ (PDF, 232 KB) (https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/445-chinese-underground-banking/file): a report on the use of informal Chinese banking networks and the ‘Daigou’ system for money laundering, with implications for UK financial and retail sectors
Government guidance: all countries
- National Cyber Security Centre: Active cyber defence, guidance and resources (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/active-cyber-defence/guidance-resources): free tools, guidance and support to help UK businesses make and keep themselves secure from cyber threats
- UK sanctions (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-sanctions): information on current UK sanctions and how to apply for the appropriate licences
- Modern slavery (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/publish-an-annual-modern-slavery-statement): a collection of guidance, tools and resources to help organisations identify, prevent, and report modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. This includes statutory guidance, transparency requirements, and sector-specific advice
- Export Control Joint Unit (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/export-control-joint-unit): the government unit that administers the UK’s system of export controls and licensing for military and dual-use items
- End-use controls applying to military related items (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/end-use-controls-applying-to-military-related-items): guidance which explains the operation of the legal provisions of the military end-use controls
- National Security and Investment Act 2021 (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-security-and-investment-act): legislation allowing the government to review and intervene in business transactions that may pose national security risks, including those involving foreign investment
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme): for prospective students and researchers from certain countries who want to study or conduct research in specific sensitive technology-related fields in the UK
- Research Collaboration Advice Team (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/research-collaboration-advice-team): advice to research institutions on national security risks linked to international research
- Export controls on academic research case study (https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/export-controls-on-academic-research): case study scenarios showing when an export licence may be needed in university teaching or research environments
- National Security and Investment Act: guidance for the higher education and research-intensive sectors (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-and-investment-act-guidance-for-the-higher-education-and-research-intensive-sectors/national-security-and-investment-act-guidance-for-the-higher-education-and-research-intensive-sectors#:~:text=about%20the%20RCAT%20.-,Summary%20of%20the%20NSI%20Act,harm%20the%20UK%27s%20national%20security.): guidance for higher education institutions, other research organisations, and investors on the scope of the National Security and Investment Act 2021
- National Protective Security Authority and National Cyber Security Centre, Trusted Research (https://www.npsa.gov.uk/trusted-research): guidance for researchers, university staff and funding organisations to help keep sensitive research and intellectual property secure from theft, misuse or exploitation
- National Protective Security Authority and National Cyber Security Centre, Secure Innovation (https://www.npsa.gov.uk/secure-innovation): security advice to help start-ups protect their innovation
Non-government resources and guidance
- China-Britain Business Council (https://www.cbbc.org/): provides UK businesses with support on entering and operating in China, including market insight, regulatory advice, partner identification, cultural guidance, and access to events and business networks
- British Chamber of Commerce in China (https://britishchamber.cn/): supports UK businesses in China through policy advocacy, networking opportunities, as well as cultural and operational advice
- The Law Society: The Chinese underground banking and funds from China: LSAG advisory notice (https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/anti-money-laundering/chinese-underground-banking-and-funds-from-china)
- The Law Society: Money laundering risks and threats (https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/anti-money-laundering/money-laundering-risks-and-threats)
- OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises on responsible business conduct (https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/mneguidelines/)