AI-generated image
AsianFin -- Stroll through the streets of Hong Kong today, and it might feel like you’re wandering a vibrant district in Shenzhen. In Mong Kok, a towering JD.com billboard flaunts the company’s iconic white dog mascot alongside bold claims: “Lowest prices in all Hong Kong! Price match or pay you back!” Even traditional retailers come under fire with cheeky lines like, “Two floors of appliances — can’t sell expensive or how to pay rent?”
Nearby, restaurants in Tai Kok Tsui display bright yellow Meituan Keeta stickers, while delivery riders lounge on scooters equipped with matching insulated boxes. Double-decker buses painted in Taobao’s signature orange cruise the streets, emblazoned with promises of “Free shipping on everything, no matter what.”
Hong Kong is fast becoming a strategic battleground for mainland China’s internet giants. The city’s open economy, diverse consumers, and pivotal role as a global gateway make it a prime proving ground and launchpad for China’s tech titans eager to expand overseas. Unlike earlier ventures focused on cloud computing, AI, and fintech, these giants are now aggressively pursuing everyday consumer touchpoints — reshaping how Hongkongers shop, eat, and live.
But why are mainland tech firms so keen on Hong Kong? And what challenges and opportunities await them in this fiercely competitive, complex market?
Recent news spotlighted JD.com’s reported acquisition of the retail network and property assets of Hong Kong’s popular discount chain, Ka Bo, for about HK$4 billion (~US$510 million). Although JD later downplayed the price, confirming official details to come in August, the move clearly signals JD’s commitment to deepening its local presence.
This isn’t an isolated move. Over the past couple of years, mainland internet giants have ramped up their stakes in Hong Kong’s consumer market. Food delivery is dominated by Meituan’s Keeta, e-commerce sees fierce competition from Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo, while TikTok’s parent ByteDance pushes local lifestyle services.
Hong Kong’s InvestHK data shows that between January 2023 and mid-2025, over 1,300 overseas and mainland companies set up operations in Hong Kong, with nearly half from mainland China. Alibaba, Tencent, Meituan, ByteDance, and JD all have established presences, while Pinduoduo launched direct-to-Hong Kong shipping, and Xiaohongshu opened its first overseas office right next to Alibaba’s Hong Kong HQ.
Historically, mainland firms focused in Hong Kong on cloud computing, AI, and payment platforms. Alibaba Cloud launched its first regional data center here in 2014, cementing a dominant market share for years. Tencent Cloud followed suit, and major payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay secured Hong Kong licenses the same year. ByteDance’s BytePlus began cloud services in Hong Kong in late 2024, collaborating on enterprise AI applications aimed at Southeast Asia.
For mainland firms, Hong Kong often serves as a transit hub to bigger markets like Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. JD established its Hong Kong office and global cross-border shopping platform in 2015, facilitating international brands’ direct supply to mainland consumers. Douyin’s cross-border shopping hub is in Hong Kong, helping local brands enter mainland markets.
But the latest wave marks a new stage. Mainland firms are going all-in to win Hong Kong’s consumer mindshare and market share—from everyday meals to online shopping and beyond.
Subsidies, Logistics, and Ground War
Launching in May 2023, Meituan Keeta stormed Hong Kong’s food delivery scene with an aggressive subsidy blitz. Offering “HK$1 billion rewards,” new users received generous coupons, including HK$300 sign-up credits and multiple free delivery and discount vouchers. On day one, Mong Kok alone saw 1,500–2,000 orders, matching Meituan’s projections.
Keeta kept ramping up subsidies: weekly free delivery, half-price days, and eventually citywide “HK$35 minimum order” promotions—cutting typical delivery costs in half. Meanwhile, Alibaba and JD poured in billions of yuan (several hundred million USD) to subsidize Hong Kong’s e-commerce market starting late 2024, marking a scaled investment compared to mainland subsidy wars, adjusted for the smaller Hong Kong population.
Yet subsidies alone don’t win markets; robust logistics are critical. Hong Kong’s unique challenges—high labor costs, dense urban traffic, and strict transport regulations—make delivery operations costly and complex. Meituan’s earlier 2018 plan to enter Hong Kong was shelved partly because electric bikes were banned on roads, limiting delivery capacity.
Undeterred, Keeta reportedly offered monthly salaries of HK$35,000 (~US$4,500) to recruit full-time riders—significantly above the HK median monthly wage of about HK$20,000. To innovate, Meituan launched drone delivery in May 2025, flying food from the Science Park to Ma On Shan in just five minutes—far faster than traditional road routes.
On e-commerce logistics, JD sped up its Hong Kong deliveries to as fast as four hours during 2023’s Singles Day, while Taobao introduced “Plus” membership services guaranteeing free shipping and expedited delivery for selected items. Both firms further slashed delivery times and raised the bar for return policies, with Taobao rolling out “Return Treasure” service reducing return shipping costs and JD offering “Price Match or Refund” guarantees.
Pinduoduo partnered with SF Express to offer free official shipping and pickup options in Hong Kong but recently lost that partnership, leading to logistical bottlenecks at local collection points.
Mainland giants’ aggressive moves have rattled Hong Kong’s local players. HKTVmall’s chairman and CEO Wang Wai-kee publicly criticized JD for app design similarities. JD responded by launching “on-site installation” services, inviting collaboration instead of confrontation.
Industry observers debate how Hong Kong’s retail and delivery sectors can resist or adapt—some suggest leveraging tax-free port status for differentiated offerings, others stress digitization and efficiency improvements. Yet no clear path emerges to fully counter mainland giants’ resources and scale.
Hong Kong’s market presents paradoxes: small yet affluent with a population of 7.5 million and a top-20 global GDP per capita, it remains underdeveloped in e-commerce and food delivery penetration compared to mainland China. Online sales comprised only 9.3% of retail turnover in November 2024, versus 26.8% in China. Food delivery penetration reached just 12% in 2023, after pandemic boosts, far below mainland’s 26%.
High labor costs and entrenched consumer habits mean growth will require sustained investment and adaptation, not just subsidies.
So why fight so hard for this “small cake”?
Hong Kong is a unique hybrid: culturally and linguistically linked to mainland China, yet commercially and legally aligned with international standards. This makes it an ideal testing ground for mainland firms preparing for overseas expansion into markets like North America, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.
Success here validates business models, sharpens operational capabilities, and builds confidence to tackle larger, more complex markets. Meituan founder Wang Xing called Hong Kong the “first stop for international exploration.” After winning a foothold here, Meituan’s Keeta quickly launched in Saudi Arabia and is expanding rapidly in Brazil.
The Hong Kong consumer battleground is a microcosm of the global competition to come. Mainland China’s internet giants are not just conquering a city—they are honing the skills and infrastructure needed to compete on the world stage.
