CS attends opening plenary of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024 and exchanges views with Hainan and Hong Kong entrepreneurs (28.3.2024)
28.3.2024

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024 and the Hainan-Hong Kong Entrepreneurs' Luncheon in Hainan today (March 28). In the morning, Mr Chan attended the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024. The theme of this year's conference is "Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities". The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Mr Zhao Leji, delivered a keynote speech at the opening plenary. In the afternoon, Mr Chan attended the Hainan-Hong Kong Entrepreneurs' Luncheon to learn about the latest developments and co-operation between entrepreneurs of the two places, and exchange views with them. Addressing the forum, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong and Hainan enjoy close geographical, cultural and business ties, and that delegation visits are organised from time to time to attract enterprises and investments, as well as deepening bilateral relationships. He also said that Hong Kong is the largest source of foreign investment in Hainan Province, and the further opening up of Hainan Province in recent years has provided numerous business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises. Mr Chan added that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been steadfastly facilitating Hong Kong enterprises' tapping of the Mainland market. Its work includes supporting the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's setup of a Hong Kong pavilion at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, and its organisation of a business delegation of Hong Kong enterprises to participate in the Expo for better seizing the development opportunities brought about by the country's domestic circulation. The HKSAR Government also supports the implementation of the initiative on a global free-trade zone partnership announced by Hainan at the Boao Forum for Asia last year to further promote the interplay between domestic and international markets, thereby bringing more business opportunities to Hong Kong enterprises. Mr Chan looked forward to Hainan and Hong Kong entrepreneurs continuing to pursue deeper and higher-level exchanges and co-operation in more areas under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits, with a view to jointly developing new quality productive forces for injecting stronger impetus into the country's high-quality development. When summarising his visit to Hainan, Mr Chan said that it is now the golden time for Hong Kong, with a more stable and safer society, to strive for development and build a vibrant economy at full speed, as well as to foster exchanges and co-operation with different places around the globe including Asia and tell good stories of Hong Kong. He stressed that the HKSAR Government will continue to foster tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community in focusing on developing the economy and improving people's livelihood. It will also support Hong Kong in steadfastly serving as a bridge between the Mainland and the rest of the world, while duly playing its dual role as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder", on the Asian and global stages. Mr Chan concluded his visit to Hainan and will return to Hong Kong today. Ends/Thursday, March 28, 2024 Issued at HKT 15:25 NNNN