In 1980 when the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was founded Hong Kong had a GDP per capita of $5,700 as compared to $8,400 for the UK. Hong Kong was a first world country before China opened up for trade. Shenzhen was a fishing village of approximately 30,000 people. Hong Kong was a city state of 5 million. China didn’t become Hong Kong’s main source of imports until 1982.