HKETO hosts business conference and reception in KL to mark 25th anniversary of HKSAR
Raising to toast to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR are (from left) Hong Kong Trade Development Council Southeast Asia and South Asia regional director Peter Wong, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, HKETO director-general Law Kin-wai, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Datuk Low Kian Chuan, and Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Association chairman Dixon Chew.
TO commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) of the HKSAR government held a business conference and a reception in Kuala Lumpur on May 27.
The events were also to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties between Hong Kong, Malaysia and Asean countries.
This was timely, in view of the Covid-19-related restrictions being gradually lifted – facilitating renewed interest in the building and strengthening of business and economic connections.
Themed Resilience and Vibrancy: Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Asean, the business conference was jointly organised by HKETO and Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia.
Hui, in his virtual keynote speech, highlighted Hong Kong’s advantages since its reunification with the motherland 25 years ago, and introduced the latest developments of Hong Kong’s financial services.
Addressing the event in a virtual keynote speech, HKSAR Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui stressed that Hong Kong has continued to possess a swathe of fundamental advantages and competitive strengths since its reunification with the motherland 25 years ago – including an open and free market, free movement of goods and capital, a simple and low tax regime, as well as a longstanding tradition of the rule of law and judicial independence, as buttressed by the “one country, two systems” framework and the Basic Law.
On the long-established close relationship between Hong Kong and Malaysia in economic and trade exchanges, Hui highlighted that Hong Kong was Malaysia’s seventh largest trading partner and fourth largest export market last year, as well as a trade conduit between Malaysia and mainland China.
Hui further shed light on the latest developments of Hong Kong’s financial services, including initiatives to further consolidate Hong Kong’s edges in such areas as fintech and, green and sustainable finance.
He stressed that the HKSAR government would continue to put its greatest efforts into strengthening ties and co-operation with Asean on relevant fronts for mutual benefits.
Prominent business leaders from both places participated in a panel discussion to explore means and areas to further deepen mutual ties and explore potential new opportunities.
In his closing remarks, HKETO director-general Law Kin-wai said that with South-East Asia as a key driver of future global economic development and the entries-into-force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Hong Kong-Asean Free Trade Agreement, Hong Kong and Malaysia could both play significant roles with this new momentum.
HKETO hosted a reception for close Malaysian partners and interlocutors in Kuala Lumpur on the same day to celebrate the 25th anniversary milestone of the establishment of the HKSAR.
Hui pointed out in his online speech Hong Kong’s position as a first-choice springboard to mainland China, particularly under the contexts of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and, the Belt and Road Initiative.
“With the relaxing of inbound travel requirements amid the pandemic for non-residents earlier this month (May), we do look forward to welcoming you back to Hong Kong to immerse yourselves once again in the vibrancy of our city,” he said.
Dignitaries who joined the occasion to mark this milestone for the HKSAR included the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Datuk Low Kian Chuan, Hong Kong Trade Development Council Southeast Asia and South Asia regional director Peter Wong, and Hong Kong-Malaysia Business Association chairman Dixon Chew.
Prominent business leaders from Hong Kong and Malaysia participating in a panel discussion to explore potentials for further deepening mutual market through Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre.
The business conference and reception were respectively attended by some 200 and some 150 participants from local government agencies, business communities and the media.
HKETO will continue to organise a series of events in the coming months to underscore the remarkable achievements of the HKSAR over the past 25 years for the Malaysian and Asean communities.
