Speech by CS at 20th Anniversary Cocktail of European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (English only)
******************************************************************************************
Mr (Horst) Geicke (Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong), Mr (Stuart) Tait (Regional Head of Commercial Banking, Asia Pacific, HSBC), Ms (Carmen) Cano (Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao), ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I am most honoured to join you all this evening to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (EuroCham).
The EuroCham represents 16 European Chambers based in Hong Kong and Macao. I notice that most of the Board Members of the European Chambers are also members of the International Business Committee that is chaired by myself as the Chief Secretary for Administration, to facilitate discussion between the Government and the international business community in Hong Kong. It is gratifying to see so many familiar faces on this auspicious occasion.
While EuroCham celebrates its 20th birthday, we are also celebrating ours. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to our Motherland. Over the past two decades, the EuroCham has played an active and important role in strengthening bilateral ties between Hong Kong and the European Union (EU). We are delighted to see the close ties developed over the years on all fronts. In 2016, the total merchandise trade between Hong Kong and the EU amounted to nearly 70 billion euros. The EU is our second largest trading partner and we are the EU’s fifth largest trading partner in Asia. Europe is a popular tour destination for Hong Kong people. There are 166 direct flights between Hong Kong and 9 member countries every week. We see good potentials to further develop our bilateral relations in the years ahead.
Currently, over 2 100 European companies are doing business in Hong Kong, leveraging on its unique advantages to extend their reach to Asia. In November, Hong Kong will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with ASEAN, our second largest trading partner. The FTA will not only provide a solid platform to further enhance the flow of trade and investment between both sides, but also strengthen Hong Kong’s role as the gateway for Mainland business to go global and overseas enterprises to enter the huge Mainland market.
Hong Kong is well-positioned to be your strategic partner in capturing new business opportunities offered by the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. The combined advantage of Hong Kong as a leading international financial centre, regional transportation and trading hub, major offshore Renminbi business centre, and our strength in various professional services makes us an indispensable player in these new and historic regional developments. Offering top-notch professional services, Hong Kong is an ideal place for European companies to establish their regional offices to seize the vast opportunities in the region.
Before I conclude, I wish to express my appreciation to the European Union Office and the Italian Chamber of Commerce for organising the meaningful Rocky Bay Beach Cleanup tomorrow. My heartfelt gratitude goes to your passion for our beautiful shorelines, your strong sense of belonging to this city and the contributions you have been making over the years.
On this encouraging note, I congratulate the EuroCham on its 20th anniversary and convey my best wishes for its efforts to scale new heights in the future. Thank you.
Ends/Friday, September 22, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:37
Issued at HKT 19:37
NNNN
Photo
