The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation on Sunday (July 28) to depart for a visit to three member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, to introduce the strengths and latest developments of Hong Kong to local political and business communities, with a view to exploring business opportunities and establishing more extensive connections and networks.
Noting that ASEAN is the second-largest trading partner of Hong Kong, Mr Lee said the bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and ASEAN reached US$144.6 billion last year and accounted for nearly 13 per cent of Hong Kong's external merchandise trade, showing substantial economic potential in these emerging markets. This is his third visit to ASEAN countries since he took office, demonstrating the importance attached by Hong Kong towards co-operation with ASEAN, Mr Lee added.
Members of the HKSAR delegation include the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip; the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho; the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau; and the Director of Information Services, Mrs Apollonia Liu.
Members of the delegation also include some 30 high-level representatives from various sectors, including industry and commerce, financial services, transport, logistics, innovation and technology and tourism.
Mr Lee will visit Laos on July 28 and 29. He will depart for Cambodia in the morning on July 30 and depart for Vietnam in the afternoon on July 31. During his visit, Mr Lee will meet with local political and business leaders to introduce Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems", and the opportunities, economic and trade connections, and broad business prospects that Hong Kong can bring to ASEAN. He will also visit local enterprises and major infrastructure projects to explore collaboration opportunities.
Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong in the evening on August 2. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Yau, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.
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