Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has called on business leaders to make a greater contribution to the city’s development.
Rather than just being observers or critics, Lee said he hopes that they can firmly grasp opportunities from the city’s economic transformation.
He made the remarks after Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged Hong Kong’s business community to take tangible steps to nurture the city’s growth, in a meeting that was held in Shenzhen last Friday.
Speaking at a forum held to mark the 10th anniversary of Master Insight Media Ltd, Lee noted that Hong Kong’s business community and entrepreneurs have both contributed to and benefited from the city’s development.
He encouraged them to translate their love for the nation and the city into concrete action, and fully leverage the city’s institutional advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework to create a better Hong Kong.
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Lee also said he expects to see greater contributions from the sector to drive the city’s growth, calling on every industry to seize the opportunities arising from the economic transformation.
Looking ahead to 2025, Lee said that Hong Kong will continue expanding its global network of cooperation. In addition to strengthening economic ties with traditional markets, the Hong Kong Special Administration Region government is expanding regional networks and emerging markets, he noted.
Lee also confirmed that Hong Kong will fully leverage its roles as a “super-connector” and a “super value-creator”, accurately showcasing the city’s real situation and diverse opportunities to local and overseas institutions, businesses and individuals, as well as those preparing to invest and do business in Hong Kong. The city will provide professional services with a hospitable attitude to these guests, Lee added.
He promised that the SAR government would break through economic development bottlenecks through innovative approaches, appealing to all sectors to address evolving economic trends by bolstering existing strengths and addressing weaknesses.
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During Friday’s meeting with Hong Kong’s business community and officials, Xia also mentioned that Hong Kong should not solely rely on traditional advantages but should also strive for innovation.
He called for the city to identify new areas for development in the ever-changing economic landscape, especially in industries like science and technology, as well as the diverse forms of tourism including ecotourism. He also urged the city to make the most of its extensive coastline and 263 islands.
In a recent radio program, Pui Kwan-kay, president of the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ & Exporters’ Association, recalled that Xia urged the industrial and commercial sectors to uphold confidence in the nation’s ongoing efforts to deepen reforms.
Additionally, Pui noted that the director conveyed unwavering support from the central government to Hong Kong, providing reassurance to the industrial and commercial sectors.
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Henry Tang Ying-yen, chairman of the board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, said he interprets Xia’s meeting with entrepreneurs as a call to pursue development through reform with keen determination.
He said that the business sector is willing to support the government’s policy initiatives, while emphasizing that entrepreneurs still need to consider costs and profits in business operations.
He noted that the government’s reform initiative and the business sector’s concrete actions are both vital for the city’s greater development. To foster deeper collaboration, he said he hopes the government will consider the logic of normal business practice when making reform plans.
Tang also said that the inclusion of SAR government officials in Xia’s meeting with the business sector can help boost collaboration, reiterating the business community’s affection for the nation and their desire to contribute more to the city and the country’s development.
