Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) held a roundtable in Shanghai today (November 6) and will hold another in Wuhan tomorrow (November 7) to update local business leaders about the opportunities Hong Kong has to offer, as part of the department’s ongoing drive to attract more Shanghai and Wuhan enterprises to leverage Hong Kong as the platform to "go global".
The seminar at Shanghai Hongqiao Central Business District was entitled "Hong Kong and Shanghai cooperation: Seizing the advantages of Hong Kong's platform" and held in collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization. It was also co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shanghai Software Industry Association, with a particular focus on Hong Kong's newly enacted tax initiatives for corporate treasury centres as well as various government support measures to attract technology companies to set up in Hong Kong.
The seminar in Wuhan, "Belt and Road, Together We Grow", is being co-organised with the Department of Commerce of Hubei Province and will offer the latest information about Hong Kong’s opportunities in terms of the Belt and Road Initiative, as part of the department's drive to step up strategic promotion in Hubei Province.
Addressing the audience in Shanghai, the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, said that the "one country, two systems" arrangement ensures that Hong Kong retains a series of enduring advantages, including a vibrant business environment, a robust legal system, world-class intellectual property protection and deep, world-class financial and professional services.
He added that Hong Kong also appeals to Mainland and foreign companies with a range of new initiatives such as the recently introduced two-tiered profits tax rates regime, plus innovation and technology policy and support measures including a super tax deduction of up to 300 per cent for research and development expenditure and a new listing regime allowing pre-revenue biotechnology companies and innovative companies with weighted voting rights structures to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
In terms of the business opportunities Hong Kong has to offer amid the Belt and Road Initiative, he said, "You can leverage Hong Kong's world-class financial and professional services to structure and finance projects and mergers and acquisitions deals, and access the very best accounting and tax, legal, construction engineering design, management and project planning, and much more. And, of course, tap into Hong Kong's deep debt and equity capital markets. All underpinned by Hong Kong's common law system, which also makes Hong Kong a very suitable location for dispute resolution too."
Mr Phillips said, "I would strongly urge you to capture these exciting opportunities and make use of Hong Kong to realise your international ambitions."
He added, "InvestHK will continue to strengthen collaboration with the relevant authorities in Shanghai and actively perform our role as a facilitator and promoter, so as to identify more business and development opportunities for people and enterprises in both Hong Kong and Shanghai."
About InvestHK
InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For an event photo, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157699843345252.
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