Your data, kept simple.

Last updated: 14 November 2026

Who we are

HQ Guangzhou is an independent business community of people who live in Guangzhou and work in English, run by the HQ Guangzhou team. It is not affiliated with any public authority, institution or event organiser. When this page says “we”, it means the team that reviews applications and runs the WeChat group.

What we collect

When you apply on hqguangzhou.com, we receive the answers you give us:

• your first name, and your WeChat ID and/or WhatsApp number;
• whether you live in Guangzhou, are moving soon or come for business trips, what you do, what you’re looking for and your age bracket;
• the short description you write, and, if you add them, what you could bring to the group and a website or LinkedIn link;
• how you found us (for example the name of an ad campaign), taken from the link you clicked.

Why we use it

Only to review your application, add you on WeChat (or message you on WhatsApp), add you to the group and contact you about it. We don’t sell your data and we don’t add you to any mailing list.

Where it goes

• Vercel hosts this website and receives the form.
• Google stores applications in a private spreadsheet and sends the team a notification email.
• WeChat (Tencent) runs the group itself once you join, and is how we add you.
• WhatsApp (Meta), only if you gave us a WhatsApp number, to message you about your application.

Measuring our ads

This site uses the Meta pixel to understand which ads bring people here: it records page views, how far people get in the application and when an application is sent. When you send an application, your first name and, if you gave one, your WhatsApp number are passed to Meta in hashed (scrambled) form so the visit can be matched to an ad. Your WeChat ID is never sent to Meta. You can limit this in your Facebook or Instagram ad settings, or with your browser’s tracking protection.

How long we keep it

We keep your application while you’re a member of the group. If you aren’t added or you leave, we delete it within 12 months, or sooner if you ask.

Your rights

You can ask to see, correct or delete your data, or object to how we use it. Reply to any message from the HQ Guangzhou team or message a group admin on WeChat, and we’ll sort it out.

Group rules

No pitches, no spam, no unsolicited selling, be kind. Sending an application means you accept these rules. Members share their own experience: it’s shared experience, not legal advice, and the group doesn’t replace a lawyer, an accountant or the authorities.