CE addresses Japanese business community on Hong Kong&apos;s latest developments
26.4.2021

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (April 26) addressed more than 800 Japanese entrepreneurs and business executives during a webinar on "Hong Kong as a pro-business gateway to China", in which she highlighted how Hong Kong's strong fundamentals and unique advantages under "One Country, Two Systems" make it an ideal partner for Japanese enterprises to tap the vast market in the Mainland of China, in particular the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit; and the Commissioner for the Development of the GBA, Mr Tommy Yuen, also joined the webinar. During the session, Mrs Lam emphasised that "One Country, Two Systems" is not only the bedrock of Hong Kong's stability and continued success, but also regarded by the Central Authorities as an institutional strength of the nation. She said that the two important Decisions made by the National People's Congress in the past year, namely the enactment and implementation of the national security law and the improvement to the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), have put the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in the HKSAR back on the right track, enabling the city to flourish while leveraging such unique strengths. Through a short video recapping her visits to Japan and meetings with Japanese officials and representatives of various sectors since taking office, Mrs Lam highlighted the close ties between Hong Kong and Japan. She said this was also reflected in Hong Kong hosting nearly 1 400 Japanese companies, the largest group of foreign companies that have set up offices in Hong Kong, with about half of them using Hong Kong as their regional headquarters or regional offices. She pointed out that Hong Kong's traditional strengths, including the rule of law, an independent judiciary, a free flow of capital and information and a deep talent pool, are as strong as ever, and that the city will continue to serve as a gateway for businesses and investment between the Mainland and Japan. She also said that in the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, Hong Kong's competitive strengths as international financial, transportation and trade centres, as well as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, continue to be recognised for advancement, while for the first time the city's aspiration and ability to develop an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, an international aviation hub, an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and an intellectual property trading hub have been given recognition. Mrs Lam highlighted that the huge market and growth potential of the GBA presents unlimited opportunities not only to Hong Kong but also to the world. She said she expected exciting developments in the GBA in the coming years and encouraged Japanese enterprises to partner with Hong Kong to seize those opportunities. She and the three Principal Officials present addressed wide-ranging questions from participants during the one-and-a-half-hour session, covering topics such as travel restrictions due to COVID-19, Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, I&T development and the decarbonisation policy. The webinar was organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) and co-organised by Invest Hong Kong. Speakers included the Chief Executive Officer of KDDI Hong Kong Limited, Mr Kojima Yasuyuki; the Managing Director of OMRON Hong Kong Limited, Mr Yamauchi Takao; and the Director General of the Japan External Trade Organization, Mr Takashima Tomohiro. Other supporting organisations included Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Ends/Monday, April 26, 2021 Issued at HKT 19:40 NNNN