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HKGCC to address two crucial issues for Hong Kong business

The Chamber will tackle two issues of prime concern to members over the next few months. The first of these involves the governance of the SAR Government -- especially as it relates to business policy -- and the second is economic integration with China.

The Chamber will hold several events in June and July to probe deeper into each of these issues, the first of which will be addressed by the SAR Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, at a Distinguished Speakers' Series luncheon on June 17. He will talk about his ideas for his second term, which begins on July 1, and the details of the accountability system that will help him turn those ideas into policy.

The second issue will be addressed at a major conference on July 8-9 entitled, "Pearl River Delta: Forging a New Force," that the Chamber is organising with the South China Morning Post. Mr Tung, who has been a proponent of closer economic integration with China, will kick off this one-and-a-half-day conference, and will be followed by speakers from Hong Kong and cities in the Pearl River Delta region who will explore the implications of integration.

Also in June, we will present to government our submissions on the corporate governance consultation and on the civil service wage survey consultation. In the coming months, we will examine the serious budget deficit problem and focus on social welfare payments, spending and civil service re-structuring. The Chamber will initiate a major project on the latter topic, since we believe a total revamp is necessary to help Hong Kong meet its budget targets in the near future -- without raising taxes. Chamber members' views will be solicited as always.

In addition, in early June our Chairman, Christopher Cheng, leads a high-level Chamber delegation to Beijing. Joining him will be General Committee members and Chairmen of some Chamber committees and 13 international chambers' chairmen. The group will look at the issue of economic integration and the effect on Hong Kong, especially the progress in the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement consultations. This ongoing consultation has made some progress and is being monitored closely by the Chamber.

Two other missions planned by the Chamber are a visit in mid-June to the Pearl River Delta to look firsthand at recent developments in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and a study mission to Tibet at the end of July. This, the Chamber's first trip to Tibet, will feature meetings with Tibetan Autonomous Region leaders, and will explore economic opportunities there. Members joining will also have the chance to visit some of Tibet's fascinating historic and scenic sites.

Come join us as we explore the two critical issues of governance and economic integration with China.

Eden Woon
Director
HKGCC