The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (November 25) to lead a 52-strong delegation, comprising businesses, professionals and start-ups to visit Malaysia and Thailand to promote Hong Kong's strengths on various fronts in the pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative. The opportunity will be taken to foster stronger trade and economic ties and explore new business opportunities.

     The delegation consists of entrepreneurs and professionals from a wide range of sectors, demonstrating Hong Kong's comprehensive and competitive edges. They include accounting, finance, insurance, real estate and infrastructure development, legal and dispute resolution, transport and logistics, energy and environmental services, manufacturing, technology and telecommunications, cultural and creative industries and start-ups.

     Mr Yau said Malaysia and Thailand are both close partners of Hong Kong in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The forthcoming mission is another step to reinforce the city's relationship with these two fast-growing ASEAN countries after the inking of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in 2017 and the opening of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok in this February.

     The delegation will first visit Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from November 25 to 26, to be followed by a visit to Bangkok, Thailand from November 27 to 29. Apart from meeting local government officials, business leaders and chambers of commerce, the delegates will pay visits to leading companies and the Mainland's overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones there to understand the latest developments at the two places. Business matching opportunities will be staged to promote partnership and seek co-operation opportunities.

     The delegates will also attend business seminars cum networking luncheons in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to establish connections with the business community there. Mr Yau will give keynote speeches on both occasions.

     During the visit, Mr Yau will call on the Chinese Ambassadors to Malaysia and Thailand to keep them abreast of the latest developments in Hong Kong.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on the evening of November 29. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau's absence.

Ends/Sunday, November 24, 2019
Issued at HKT 14:00

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