Led by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, a high-level Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation comprising senior government officials and members of various sectors of Hong Kong participated actively in the thematic forums of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing today (April 25).
Mrs Lam delivered keynote speeches at the opening sessions of the thematic forums on sub-national co-operation and financial connectivity. Addressing the international audience at the thematic forum on sub-national co-operation, she highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages, including its strategic geographic location as a bi-directional gateway connecting the Mainland and other Belt and Road countries, and the "one country, two systems" principle which enables Hong Kong to enjoy a high degree of autonomy in conducting its external affairs and establishing extensive and strong overseas connections. She added that as a well-developed city with rich experience in city management, Hong Kong is prepared to share its knowledge and expertise with the Belt and Road counterparts to contribute to people-to-people connectivity. These unique advantages position Hong Kong well to play a pivotal role in enhancing international and regional co-operation in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.
At the thematic forum on financial connectivity, Mrs Lam pointed out that the single most relevant advantage of Hong Kong that could best meet the country's needs is its financial services given its status as a global financial centre. According to the Global Financial Centres Index, Hong Kong is ranked number three globally, just behind New York and London. She said that with its deep capital market, as one of the largest bond markets in the region and as the biggest offshore Renminbi centre in the world, Hong Kong is a one-stop destination of choice to serve as a premier financial and risk management centre for the Belt and Road's big-ticket projects.
At the thematic forum on sub-national co-operation, there was a dedicated session themed "Belt and Road: Hong Kong IN". Mrs Lam delivered opening remarks and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Mrs Laura M Cha, served as the moderator of the session. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Norman Chan; Senior Counsel Mr Rimsky Yuen; the Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, Dr Jonathan Choi; the Chairman of the Insurance Authority, Dr Moses Cheng; the Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mr Fred Lam; and the Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Mr Henry Tang, joined the session as panellists. They shared their insights on Hong Kong's position as the Belt and Road hub in many aspects, ranging from finance and investment, legal and dispute resolution services, business and trade, professional services and capacity building to cultural exchange.
In addition to attending the thematic forums on financial connectivity and sub-national co-operation, the Hong Kong delegation attended 10 other thematic forums on policy, infrastructure, trade and people-to-people connectivity, think-tank exchanges, clean silk road, digital silk road, green silk road, silk road of innovation, and economic and trade co-operation zone promotion. They also participated in the CEO Conference.
Hong Kong delegates including the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; Non-official Member of the Executive Council Mr Joseph Yam; Co-chair of the Executive Committee of the Maritime Silk Road Society Mrs Regina Ip; Mr Tang; Mr Yuen; the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Shyy Wei; the Chairman of the Esquel Group, Ms Marjorie Yang; Dr Choi; and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Sunny Chai, were moderators or guest speakers at other thematic forums and the CEO Conference. They spoke with the forum participants on Hong Kong's contributions in respect of promoting global connectivity and win-win development, and Hong Kong's work in the Belt and Road.
Mrs Lam, together with the Hong Kong delegates, will attend the opening ceremony and the high-level meetings of the Forum tomorrow (April 26). She will also attend the welcome dinner and cultural performance with the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and Mr Yau in the evening.
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