CE arrives at Hainan to attend Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference
29.3.2023

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, arrived at Hainan this afternoon (March 29) to attend the dinner event of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 and meet with leaders of the Hainan Province. He also visited local medical tourism facilities to understand the participation of Hong Kong-funded enterprises in Hainan's medical projects. Upon arrival in Hainan, Mr Lee and the delegation first visited the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (the Pilot Zone), which was established with the approval of the State Council in 2013. The Pilot Zone focuses on the development of international medical tourism-related industries including licensed medical treatment, health management and care rehabilitation. Mr Lee toured a medical equipment exhibition and the Boao Super Hospital which operates under an innovative model. He also visited Hainan Deya Hospital, the first hospital in the Pilot Zone with investment from Hong Kong enterprises. Mr Lee was pleased to learn that a number of projects in the Pilot Zone involving Hong Kong enterprises are under construction or planning, representing vast business opportunities in Hainan for Hong Kong enterprises and the contributions made by Hong Kong's professional services sector to the development of Hainan's "medical special zone". In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner event hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia. After the dinner event, Mr Lee met with the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and the Governor of the Hainan Province, Mr Feng Fei. Mr Feng expressed his warm welcome to Mr Lee and his delegation, as well as his sincere gratitude to Hong Kong's full support to the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. He said Hainan attached great importance to its co-operation with Hong Kong, and that the exchange and collaboration between the two places have been well established in recent years and could provide broad prospects. Mr Feng said he looked forward to the two places' full utilisation of their complementary advantages, the enhancement of their exchange and co-operation mechanism, and the development of a Hainan-Hong Kong economic co-operation development pilot zone. He also expressed the aspiration to accelerate co-operation in such fields as professional services, medical care, tourism, retail, and investment and talent attraction, and promote Hong Kong youths' innovation and entrepreneurship endeavours in Hainan, with a view to deepen and consolidate the co-operation between Hainan and Hong Kong. Noting that the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference is held fully physically this year, Mr Lee said that he is pleased to participate in this major annual event in Hainan in person. He also said that the rich experience and international connectivity of professional sectors in Hong Kong could facilitate Hainan to develop a free trade port. The HKSAR Government is willing to co-operate with the People's Government of Hainan Province to actively explore relevant measures in promoting exchanges and development of Hong Kong professional services sector and youths in Hainan in order to achieve a win-win situation. An initiative on global free trade zone partnership was announced in the Global Free Trade Ports Development Forum at the Boao Forum for Asia this morning. The initiative aims at promoting further co-operation among free trade zones (ports) in the world. Mr Lee said that the HKSAR supports and participates in the initiative to jointly promote the interplay between domestic and international markets and resources while highlighting Hong Kong’s role as a strong supporter of trade and investment liberalisation. Mr Lee will attend the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 as well as the Boao Forum for Asia and Hainan Provincial Government Joint Welcome Dinner, and continue his visit in Hainan tomorrow (March 30). Ends/Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Issued at HKT 22:50 NNNN