Belt and Road Joint Conference to be held in Beijing

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will hold the first Belt and Road Joint Conference with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) as well as other relevant central authorities in Beijing on June 12 to discuss the strategy of Hong Kong's full participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative, the work priorities and initiatives to be implemented for the year.
 
     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; and representatives from the Development Bureau, Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Insurance Authority and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will attend the Joint Conference. They will depart for Beijing tomorrow (June 11). Ms Cheng will proceed to visit London, the United Kingdom after the meeting while other government officials and representatives will return to Hong Kong by June 12 evening.
 
     The HKSAR Government and the NDRC signed the Arrangement between the NDRC and the HKSAR Government for Advancing Hong Kong's Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (the Arrangement) in Beijing on December 14, 2017. As set out in the Arrangement, a Joint Conference mechanism will be set up between the HKSAR Government, and the NDRC, the HKMAO as well as other relevant central authorities for regular and direct communication. The Joint Conference will discuss matters relating to Hong Kong's participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative and consider specific work priorities.
 
     During the absence of Mr Yau and Mr Nip, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.