Hong Kong has welcomed the appointment of new leaders to two significant statutory bodies in the tourism and trade sectors, anticipating boosts in their potency to steer these industries on their way to a broader and more globalized vista.
Peter Lam Kin-ngok, the current head of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will succeed Pang Yiu-kai to lead the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) —a position he formerly held between 2013 and 2019. His tenure will start on April 1.
Lam’s place at the HKTDC will be taken by Frederick Ma Si-hang, the city’s former commercial chief from June 1, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced on Wednesday.
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Lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, entrepreneur Nikki Ng Mien-hua, and lawyer Melissa Kaye Pang have also been appointed as new members of HKTB.
The personnel changes came as the city strives to boost local business and tourism sectors while luring more overseas capital amid global uncertainties.
As a renowned businessman, the 67-year-old Lam will be the first two-time chairman of the HKTB, and he will also helm both agencies during April and May.
Lam thanked the government for putting its trust in him, pledging to revitalize Hong Kong’s tourism industry through the support of the nation, the city’s own advantages and its connectivity to international resources.
He also said he plans to deepen tourism cooperation with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to attract more mainland and overseas tourists, and to leverage local convention and exhibition resources to attract business travelers.
Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, secretary for culture, sports and tourism, hailed Lam as “the best person to lead the HKTB and Hong Kong’s tourism sector to new heights,” citing his rich experience in business management and public services as well as his “forward-thinking” as key qualities.
Law also thanked the outgoing Pang for his contribution over a six-year tenure that will end on March 31.
Welcoming Lam’s return, the HKTB said his broad experience and network stretching across the tourism and business industries will hopefully translate into a successful term marked by a more expanded source market.
Yiu Pak-leung, lawmaker of the tourism industry, said Lam’s experience in movies, sports and other entertainment fields will benefit the integration of culture, sports and tourism, which can attract more high-end visitors to the city.
Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, chairman of Hong Kong’s Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that the HKTDC, having Ma take the reins, is well positioned to assist Hong Kong enterprises in tapping opportunities presented by national initiatives such as developing new quality productive forces, the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Ma headed the city’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau from 2002 to 2007, and then the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau until July 2008. He also served as the MTR Corp’s non-executive chairman between 2016 and 2019, and is now a non-executive director at FWD Group, a leading insurer.
After receiving news of his appointment, Ma said: “I will do my best to support Hong Kong’s businesses to better leverage the city’s established roles as an international trade and financial center and as the country’s ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ to continue to thrive on the global stage.”
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The city’s current commercial chief Algernon Yau Ying-wah expressed his confidence in the new appointment.
With his extensive public service and commercial experience, under Ma’s leadership the HKTDC will see more benefits in helping enterprises tackle challenges, especially facing the current volatile global trade climate, said Yau.
Yau added that more expansion and business opportunities, as well as progress in consolidating the city’s status as an international trade center, are also expected.
Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com
