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Speech by CE at "In Style•Hong Kong" Gala Dinner in Jakarta (English only)
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     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at the Gala Dinner of "In Style•Hong Kong" hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Jakarta, Indonesia, tonight (September 17):

Minister Yasonna, Vincent, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. Welcome to the "In Style•Hong Kong" Gala Dinner.

     It's been quite a day here in Jakarta, your capital, and it seems we're just getting going. The bright, buzzing reception certainly revitalised this speaker. I enjoyed the mini-spotlight on Hong Kong's creative talent, as I'm sure you did. And while I applaud the flair of the award-winning Hong Kong bartender on show, I confess that what I really craved wasn't a cocktail, or even a mocktail, but rather a brimming mug of Hong Kong-style milk tea.

     The good news is that our distinctive milk tea is on the Gala Dinner menu. You'll find it between the sea bass, with its "Choy Po" polenta, and the palm-sugar dusted, sour cherry ice-cream.

     You'll discover more about the menu, which was specially designed by two Hong Kong Michelin-star chefs, later in the evening. Let me just say that their innovative culinary approach means more than fabulous food. It speaks, too, of today's Hong Kong: creative, trendsetting, design-driven Hong Kong.

     And that's what "In Style•Hong Kong" is all about. It's why the Hong Kong Trade Development Council put together this gala evening. Why it organised the lifestyle product expo on show through Saturday, the citywide "In Style•Hong Kong" promotion, today's well-attended business symposium and much more. It's why I'm here in Jakarta with you.

     Our design culture animates, infuses, just about everything we do today in Hong Kong. It finds its value-added way into every product and service we dream up, produce, package and promote. And that, of course, reflects the people behind those smart products and services, behind our start-ups and companies, large and small.

     That's why design is one of Hong Kong's fastest-growing creative sectors. Indeed, the value the design sector adds to Hong Kong's economy more than doubled between 2005 and 2013, to about US$477 million. In recent years, design has outpaced all other creative sectors in the number of jobs, and establishments, it has realised. And that's why design was a subject on discussion between myself and your President when we met this morning.

     Hong Kong celebrates design excellence every year through Business of Design Week or BODW, the largest design event in Asia and among the largest in the world. BODW annually collaborates with a partner country or city. This year it's the stunning Spanish city of Barcelona. I invite Indonesian designers and trade bodies to join us in Hong Kong for this year's BODW.

     Nothing says design like Hong Kong's fashion industry, which boasts a global reputation for its ability to blend the commercial with the innovative. You'll see that, first-hand, later this evening, thanks to a Hong Kong fashion parade spotlighting the latest collections of a number of renowned Hong Kong designers. I'm pleased to add that they will also showcase a crossover look, fashion inspired by Indonesian batik.

     Alongside design, Hong Kong's creative industries find markets throughout the region and around the world, in areas ranging from advertising and architecture to comics and animation. Hong Kong counts, as well, one of the world's most dynamic film industries. In recent years, we've taken excellent advantage of our deep economic ties with the Mainland of China. Over the past four years, 242 Hong Kong-Mainland co-produced movies were released in the Mainland. Among them, nearly 60 each grossed more than US$16 million in domestic box-office receipts.

     Thanks to CEPA, or the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, our free trade pact with the Mainland of China, the film industry - like Hong Kong generally - serves as a "super-connector" between the Mainland and the rest of the world. You can see that, in action, at the HKTDC's annual Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, the largest marketplace of its kind in Asia.

     Let me note, here, that Hong Kong is committed to safeguarding intellectual property rights.  That pledge is underpinned by our respect for private economic rights, by our recognition that intellectual property protection is a cornerstone of Hong Kong's economic growth and cultural development. We understand the importance of intellectual property protection for local and overseas creators, companies and investors alike.

     It means that our intellectual property laws fully comply with major IP-related treaties, including the World Trade Organization's. That said, we continually review our IP laws to ensure that they stay abreast of technological development. In fact we are looking forward to the passage of a Bill in our Legislative Council, which will further strengthen Hong Kong' copyright regime, spurring the development of our design and creative industries.

     Let me summarise here - we have the creative talent, robust IP regime, and the unparalleled two-way platform for Mainland business "going out" and global business "walking in". Add the research prowess of our universities, I see a rosy picture of Hong Kong transforming into an innovation and technology hub, together with the unlimited opportunities it will bring. To bolster our efforts in this arena, I have proposed to establish an Innovation and Technology Bureau within the Hong Kong SAR Government, to coordinate the efforts of the Government, industry, academia and research sectors.

     Add to that our "One Country, Two Systems" arrangement, and you have, in Hong Kong, a partner blessed with the best of two worlds: all the advantages that come with being part of China and at the same time practising, so to speak, "the other system"; and all the opportunities that come from being super-connected to global business, trade, finance, innovation and technology.

     That partnership between Indonesia and Hong Kong has been a fruitful one for our two economies, and I'm sure it will continue to grow.

     And it's not just partnership between Hong Kong and Indonesia. It's also the partnership between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Indonesia is a key player. ASEAN, at the end of 2013, was the seventh-major source of inward direct investment into Hong Kong, with an IDI stock exceeding US$33 billion. At the same time, ASEAN was the sixth-major destination of outward direct investment from Hong Kong, with an ODI stock of more than US$29 billion.

     In April this year, I attended the ASEAN Leadership Forum in Kuala Lumpur, and met with leaders of six nations of ASEAN to renew our ties. I have assured them that ASEAN investors and businesses would find Hong Kong's "super-connector" role fruitful and profitable. To further develop Hong Kong's relationship with Indonesia and ASEAN, we will set up an Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta. And this office will be the 12th office outside of China in foreign countries and Jakarta will join the league of cities such as London, Berlin, Brussels, New York, Washington D C, Toronto, Sydney, etc, as how important we view Jakarta in this league. It demonstrates our commitment to Indonesia and the region, and our determination to further work with our partners in Indonesia and ASEAN.

     And let me further add that when China's forward-looking 21st century Maritime Silk Road and Silk Road Economic Belt initiatives set sail, Hong Kong's enduring advantages, from our low and simple tax regime, to our independent judiciary, our global financial expertise and our wealth of services professionals, will provide further impetus to the mutually beneficial partnership between Hong Kong and Indonesia.

     The "Belt and Road" promises infrastructural development and financial and cultural exchanges on an unprecedented scale, charting a new level of globalisation for the Mainland of China, while taking a good piece of the emerging world with it. Indonesia, to be sure, has much to gain.

     As for Hong Kong, we have the means, the expertise and the connections to emerge as the "Belt and Road's" fundraising and financial management culture (should be centre).

     But more than the mighty business of money, we see boundless opportunity in serving as a training hub for the region, in developing talent for emerging economies in a wide range of areas. Including, of course, our design and creative sectors.

     Ladies and gentlemen. We have so much to look forward to down the promising roads that bring Hong Kong and Indonesia together. I can't even wait to see the opportunities arising from our partnership turning into actions, and of course, profits.

     My thanks to the Trade Development Council of Hong Kong for bringing us together this gala evening.

     Thank you and bon appetit.

Ends/Thursday, September 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 22:50

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