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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government remains fully committed to maintaining an environment conducive to doing business and is keen to attract more small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Linda Lai, told guests in Ankara, Turkey, today (January 29, Turkish time) at a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The US-based Heritage Foundation recently named Hong Kong as the world's freest economy for the 19th year in a row. Hong Kong's low-tax regime, effective rule of law and level playing field, as well as the successful implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, create the best possible conditions for companies in Hong Kong to grow and innovate.
"We now host almost 4 000 regional headquarters and regional offices. Multinational corporations aside, we are indeed also very keen to attract small and medium-size enterprises to Hong Kong," Ms Lai said to guests at the reception in Ankara.
Reassuring those SMEs who were concerned about office rental, she said that there are already in the market co-working spaces for entrepreneurs and creative talents at prices as low as 100 Euros to 450 Euros a month.
"In addition, there are venture capitalists who will invest in your concept and help you to fine-tune it. Incubator programmes are also available in our InnoCentre and Hong Kong Science and Technology Park."
At the heart of the action as China's international gateway, Hong Kong stands to benefit when the Mainland continues its economic momentum this year. In its National 12th Five-Year Plan, the Central Government of the People's Republic of China expressed support for Hong Kong to consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, trading and shipping centre.
"The Hong Kong Government is determined to build on this support and unlock the vast opportunities in Mainland China, for the benefit of both local and overseas companies established in Hong Kong," Ms Lai said.
This year, Hong Kong will continue to play a leading role in promoting offshore business using the Mainland currency, the Renminbi, and internationalisation of the Mainland's commodity futures market. It will introduce further initiatives to consolidate and develop its status as a key asset management centre in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We are also committed to maintaining and building on the strong ties with our overseas trading partners and related international organisations with a view to sustaining mutual growth."
She noted that as the Government makes improving the environment a priority, there will be many business opportunities in the years ahead for overseas companies in the area of environmental technologies, green transport, waste management and recycling.
Today's Chinese New Year celebration in Ankara, co-hosted with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, is the first of a series of events that the HKETO, Brussels is hosting around Europe to mark the start of the Year of the Snake and to renew ties with contacts in European Union institutions, national governments, business circles, academia and the media.
Similar receptions to be hosted by the HKETO, Brussels will be held in Venice, Milan, the Hague, Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Lisbon, Dublin, Rome and Madrid in the coming weeks. A total of around 1 400 guests are expected to attend.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Mr Didier Reynders, will be the guest of honour at the reception to be held in Brussels on February 6.
Among the events in the aforementioned cities, the receptions in the Hague, Brussels and Paris will include performances by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Ensemble to showcase the cultural talents in Hong Kong.
Ends/Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:40
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