The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, yesterday (January 24, Davos time) continued to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting and other activities in Davos, Switzerland. 
 
     Mrs Lam was invited to attend the lunch of the WEF Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders, where leaders of various economies and international organisations expressed their views on issues including the global political and economic situation, technological development and climate change.
 
     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam met with a number of senior government officials and leaders of institutions from different countries. Among them, Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte. Mrs Lam said she was pleased to know that applications under the Hong Kong/Netherlands Working Holiday Scheme have been accepted since January 1 this year, enabling youths of both places to broaden their horizons and to gain living and working experience in a foreign culture, which she believes would boost the ties between the two places. She also proposed to explore further collaboration on financial development.
 
     Mrs Lam also met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Philip Hammond, and the Lord Mayor of London, Mr Peter Estlin, separately. Mrs Lam said to Mr Hammond that with the joint statement issued in March last year, both sides can forge broader and deeper collaboration on a number of priority areas, in particular finance and innovation and technology. She added that distinguished universities in the UK are welcome to participate in the research clusters which are being proactively established in Hong Kong. At the meeting with Mr Estlin, Mrs Lam congratulated him on his assumption of office as the Lord Mayor of London in November last year. Welcoming his visit to Hong Kong next month to meet with members of the financial sector, she invited him to attend the fourth Belt and Road Summit to be held in Hong Kong in September this year. Mr Yau also joined the meeting with Mr Estlin.
 
     In addition, accompanied by Mr Chan and Mr Yau respectively, Mrs Lam separately met with the senior management of two enterprises from the United States, namely the Chief Executive Officer of Bank of America, Mr Brian Moynihan, and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Donovan, and Senior Vice President, Mr Karim Lesina, of AT&T Communications, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. Mrs Lam updated Mr Moynihan on Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre with well-developed financial infrastructure, a simple tax regime and a deep talent pool, including plenty of experts well versed in the Mainland market. She said she welcomes the Bank to continue to leverage Hong Kong's various advantages to further develop its business in the region. During the meeting with Mr Donovan and Mr Lesina, Mrs Lam briefed them on Hong Kong's advanced infrastructure and connectivity in broadcasting and telecommunications. She said Hong Kong is developing the 5G network to advance its smart city development.
 
     In the evening, Mrs Lam, Mr Chan and Mr Yau attended the Hong Kong Night co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), where Mrs Lam introduced to guests from around the world Hong Kong's various advantages and future opportunities. She also expressed her gratitude to the HKEX, the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the MTR Corporation for their efforts to promote Hong Kong during the WEF Annual Meeting. The HKEX became a Strategic Partner Associate of the WEF last year, while the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the MTR Corporation are WEF Partners. Mrs Lam hosted a lunch in honour of the Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, Professor Klaus Schwab, during his visit to Hong Kong last September, and the Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of the three organisations also attended the lunch, in which plans to more proactively promote Hong Kong through the pivotal platform of the WEF were discussed. Mrs Lam in her address expressed her heartfelt thanks to Professor Schwab for attending the Hong Kong Night amid his busy schedule and for his encouragement and support for Hong Kong over the past year.
 
     Mrs Lam concluded her visit programme in Davos yesterday. During her stay in Davos, she gave interviews to Mainland and international media organisations to address their questions on Hong Kong's socio-economic development and international issues.
 
     Mrs Lam departed Davos this morning (January 25, Davos time) and will return to Hong Kong in the morning on January 26.

Ends/Friday, January 25, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:20

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