CE leads delegation to visit Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia
20.7.2023

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation on Sunday (July 23) to depart for a visit to three member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, to further strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries in the areas of trade, economy and investment, with a view to exploring business opportunities. The visit also aims to tell the good stories of Hong Kong by introducing the city's latest strengths and opportunities to local political and business communities. Noting that the relationship between Hong Kong and ASEAN has always been close, Mr Lee said that ASEAN is the second largest trading partner of Hong Kong and the fifth largest economy in the world, with strong impetus for economic development and unlimited potential. This is his second visit to ASEAN countries since he took office, showing the great importance attached by Hong Kong towards the development potential of the ASEAN market. Members of the HKSAR delegation include the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip; the Director of Information Services, Mr Fletch Chan; and the Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang. Members of the delegation also include about 30 high-level representatives from various sectors, including industry and commerce, financial services, transport, logistics and e-commerce, and innovation and technology. Mr Lee will visit Singapore from July 23 to 25. He will depart for Jakarta, Indonesia, in the morning on July 25 and depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the morning on July 27. During his visit, Mr Lee will meet with local political and business leaders to introduce Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. He will also encourage ASEAN enterprises to expand their businesses in Hong Kong and explore the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area market by making good use of Hong Kong's professional services and financing platform. He will also visit local enterprises and major infrastructure projects to explore collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong and ASEAN countries in the areas of trade and economy and infrastructure. Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on July 29. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Hui, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. During the absence of Mr Yau, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. During the absence of Mr Lam, the Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, will be the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics. During the absence of Professor Sun, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry. Ends/Thursday, July 20, 2023 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN