Submissions and Reports

The Chamber supports the Government’s efforts to remove Hong Kong from the European Union’s watchlist by introducing changes to our FSIE regime while upholding the key principles of our taxation policy. However, more clarity should be provided on certain issues including the interpretation and application of covered income and economic substance requirement, as well as the eligibility criteria for the proposed participation exemption.

The Chamber has called on the Government to normalize international connectivity. Based on findings from a Chamber survey conducted in May 2022, an overwhelming majority of respondents have been affected by restrictive travel measures.

HKGCC supports the Government’s policy objective of improving health and safety at work. However, we believe that it can be achieved more effectively by means other than significantly raising penalties, and doubling the period for summons from six months to one year as proposed.

The Chamber welcomes the notion of an e-HKD as a digital legal tender given the associated benefits that would go towards consolidating the city’s standing as an international financial centre. The Chamber has also put forward design and implementation recommendations on the development of such a Central Bank Digital Currency.

The Chamber welcomes the Commission’s proposals to extend the Block Exemption for Vessel Sharing Agreements) Order 2017 (“the Order”). At the same time, we continue to advocate for the extension of the Order for five years, as well as the removal of the market share limit for vessel sharing agreements currently imposed under the Order.

HKGCC welcomes the opportunity to comment on the review of the Statutory Minimum Wage (“SMW”) rate, which we recommend to be left unchanged at the current level of $37.5 per hour.

In its letter to the sole CE Candidate John Lee, the Chamber has made a range of recommendations including the call for a clear roadmap to restore links with the rest of the world.

The Chamber welcomes the proposal to grant qualifying entities the right to enjoy tax concessions as this would further consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a premier international financial centre. At the same time, the Chamber calls on the government to also address non-taxation issues to better position Hong Kong as a preferred destination for family offices.

The Chamber appeals to the Government to give due attention to protecting economic viability and maintaining business stability in the interest of maintaining the city’s status as it steers Hong Kong out of the fifth wave of the pandemic. To achieve these goals, the Chamber has called for the formulation of a clear and predictable action plan for recovery and restoration to normality. This also includes ensuring continuity in the delivery of critical services should such extraordinary measures as compulsory universal testing and a citywide lockdown be implemented.