The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, attended an international forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, today (February 10) and met with local political and business leaders to promote Hong Kong's advantages in legal, financial, and other professional services under the "one country, two systems" principle. He emphasised that Hong Kong would continue to play the role of "super connector" and "super value-adder" to strengthen ties between the Chinese Mainland and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
      
     In the morning, Dr Cheung attended the China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026, where he shared insights with political and business communities on how Hong Kong's unique strengths can help consolidate and develop economic and trade partnerships with fast-growing economies like Indonesia.
      
     Dr Cheung noted that Hong Kong's distinctive advantages could be highlighted in four aspects. First, "irreplaceable"; Hong Kong serves as an irreplaceable bridge for Indonesian and ASEAN enterprises looking to the market of the Chinese Mainland, and for Chinese companies venturing into Southeast Asia's markets. Second, "interconnected"; as an international financial centre, Hong Kong is deeply interconnected in financial, legal, and other professional fields, reflecting the international best practice. Third, "innovative"; Hong Kong keeps abreast of innovative policies, supporting the development of different industry sectors. For example, initiatives enabling multinational corporations to relocate their domicile to Hong Kong and enjoy the city's simple and low tax regime. Fourth, "indispensable"; the common law system is a cornerstone of Hong Kong's success. With a robust rule of law environment, a bilingual common law system which is internationally compatible as well as clear and transparent laws, Hong Kong is an indispensable international legal hub offering strong and reliable legal support for sophisticated cross-border investments.
      
     Dr Cheung said that Hong Kong stood ready to collaborate with Indonesia and other ASEAN countries by leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages to promote shared prosperity across Asia.
      
     During the Conference, Dr Cheung met with the Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim of the Embassy to the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of  Indonesia, Mr Zhou Kan. Dr Cheung expressed gratitude to Mr Zhou for his support on the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Dr Cheung remarked that the Department of Justice had been fully supporting Mainland enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong to go global and rolled out the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform and the "Collection of Success Stories: Hong Kong's Professional Services Supporting Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global" about two months ago. During the visit, Dr Cheung also visited a Mainland-invested enterprise which had leveraged Hong Kong's professional services to go global successfully in Indonesia. He exchanged views with their senior management on the measures of the Platform in supporting Mainland enterprises. 
      
     Dr Cheung also met with the Chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers' Association, Ms Shinta Widjaja Kamdani. Dr Cheung indicated that Hong Kong enjoyed both China advantages and international advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle. He encouraged Indonesian businesses to leverage the city's high-quality professional services, including international legal and financial services, to set up regional business headquarters in Hong Kong and to seize new opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

     In addition, Dr Cheung had a luncheon with leaders from the commercial, financial, and innovation and technology sectors in Indonesia and nearby regions to exchange views on how to better facilitate commercial ties and collaboration between Hong Kong and Indonesia.

     In the evening, Dr Cheung attended a Chinese New Year cocktail reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Jakarta. Dr Cheung delivered a speech to over 100 guests from the local government, business, academic, cultural and media sectors. He encouraged them to fully leverage Hong Kong's advantages to explore more business opportunities and strengthen collaboration in the new year, and to deepen the partnership between Hong Kong and Indonesia.
      
     Before the reception, the Director-General of the HKETO in Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, updated Dr Cheung on the HKETO's work. She said that the establishment of the HKETO in Kuala Lumpur in December 2025 has further strengthened Hong Kong's relations with ASEAN countries. With Indonesia being ASEAN's largest economy, the HKETO in Jakarta will continue to enhance promotion work in the region, with a view to fostering bilateral economic, trade and people-to-people ties.
      
     Dr Cheung will visit the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia tomorrow (February 11) before concluding his visit and returning to Hong Kong.

Ends/Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 20:18

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