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On with Business

Jeffrey Lam was sworn in as the Chamber's new Legislative Council Representative on October 6. In this, his first Legco report, Mr Lam outlines the issues he will tackle during the new legislative year and calls on members to share with him their ideas and views

A historically high number of voters turned out in the liveliest Legco election since the handover last month. The composition of the new Legislative Council includes more independents and spans a wider political spectrum than before. As a result, many people are anticipating a new political environment and a refreshing culture of debate in the council. With your generous support, I am honoured to be one of the 21 "new leaves." In Legco I will adopt a proactive approach as I work to cultivate a strong and respected image for the General Chamber in the council and in the wider community.

I will be the bridge between the pro-government and pro-democracy camps in Legco, facilitating communication and looking to find common ground between the two sides. With the success of three self-styled maverick candidates,  "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, Albert Cheng King-hon and Chim Pui-chung in the elections, we can look forward to intense and even "entertaining" political debate over the course of the next four years. While other legislators might choose to place Hong Kong's economic challenges and new business opportunities second, I will not. I will look to help companies capitalise on new economic and business opportunities and use my position as a Legislative Councilor to get everyone pulling in the same direction, much to the benefit of the overall economy.

In the council, time is always precious. Lawmakers looking for fruitless confrontations will eat into the time of the council and do Hong Kong a disservice in the process. We have many important issues to discuss. Like CEPA; the relaxation of measures on Mainland companies investing in Hong Kong; the Individual Visit Scheme; and 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

As your representative in Legco, I will promote the work of the Chamber, both inside and outside of the council. It is a fact that many in our community are unaware of the contribution made to the local economy by members of the General Chamber and other hardworking businessmen. I am proud of the work we do, and we do it without want of recognition or reward. We do it for the prosperity and stability of everyone in Hong Kong.

My priority in Legco is to bring down artificial barriers that inhibit trade between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Two major problems often reflected by members are their difficulties in dealing with legal and taxation issues in Mainland China, and the logistics and time involved in crossing the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border.

In response to the first matter, I will communicate regularly with government officials in Hong Kong and the Mainland and tell them about the problems members face. I will also work closely with other trade associations to find solutions and muster support for new measures to address members' problems. In terms of improving efficiency at the border, I will lobby for better connectivity between Hong Kong and Guangdong, as well as enhanced connectivity to inland provinces.

As well as looking to solve obstacles that inhibit business activities, I will look to help members capitalise on new business opportunities.  I will examine how, through my affiliations and position as a lawmaker, I can help you to fully realise the benefits ushered in by CEPA I and II. Many companies have expressed to me their intention to retain a base in Hong Kong, and some have even expressed the desire to relocate some manufacturing operations back to Hong Kong to enjoy zero-tariff treatment under the arrangement.

In Legco, I will work with concerned parties to look at ways to attract high-value added businesses to Hong Kong. I will work closely with our many members in the service sector to help them position themselves to capitalise on the range of opportunities under the arrangement.

I am sure members in the service industry are pleased that the geographical restriction on Hong Kong permanent residents setting up individually owned stores in the Mainland has been lifted under CEPA II, and the scope of business that they can engage in has been further expanded.

An important challenge to the service sector will be getting agreement on the range of standards that currently govern professional services in Hong Kong and the Mainland, because practices and customs differ considerably between the two places. In Legco, I will dedicate time and effort to make sure that agreements are reached.  I firmly believe that Hong Kong service companies, because of their international exposure, have a lot to offer Mainland firms under CEPA I and II.

I will help local SMEs capitalise on new opportunities, as I believe that collectively they hold the key to economic prosperity and improved employment prospects for local people. In this endeavour, it is important that Hong Kong companies of all sizes form partnerships with Mainland enterprises. I will also dedicate much effort over the coming four years to enhance Hong Kong's role and position as a springboard into and out of the Mainland market.

On September 6, I had an enjoyable time listening to your concerns in the Town Hall Forum. We are lucky to have a strong membership of talented businessmen in the General Chamber, working for the betterment of Hong Kong. Please continue to share your ideas and views and I will reflect these in Legco and to the government.  Through our collective efforts, I am sure we can find new hope economically, politically and socially.

Jeffery Lam is the Chamber's Legco Representative. He can be reached at jefflam@fowind.com.hk