Submissions and Reports

In its latest recommendations to the upcoming Budget, the Chamber has called on the government to continue to provide support for businesses especially those badly affected by measures to contain the pandemic. The Chamber’s submission also included proposals on policy initiatives to respond to changes in the international landscape, namely, developments with BEPS 2.0 and the inclusion of Hong Kong on EU’s grey list, as well as in enhancing Hong Kong’s standing as a place for doing business.

The Chamber supports the issuance of a set of guidelines to help businesses in the relevant sectors avoid potential damage to underground telecommunications lines. At the same time, such guidance should be practicable and not overly prescriptive. The Chamber has also put forward recommendations on other aspects of the draft guidelines while noting that more time should have been made available for collecting feedback.

The rise of family offices provides considerable opportunities especially for international financial centres such as Hong Kong, which offers considerable advantages whether in terms of managing assets and investments or as a place to live. In its recommendations to the government, the Chamber has identified a number of policy areas that should be addressed if Hong Kong were to respond to the needs of global families and compete as a location of choice.

The Chamber supports the extension of the Competition (Block Exemption for Vessel Sharing Agreements) Order (“the Order”) in its current form for another term of five years. We believe that the existing Order and proposed period of extension will provide a stable and predictable regulatory environment for and in sustaining the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s shipping and logistics sector– a major pillar of our economy. We also continue to advocate for the removal of the market share limit for vessel sharing agreements currently imposed under the Order for the reasons set out in our response.

The Chamber notes that despite the recent interest in and use of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) as a listing vehicle, there have been growing concerns and regulatory scrutiny in early adopter jurisdictions such as the United States. Should SPACs be approved in Hong Kong, the Chamber recommends that such instruments be subject to the HKEX’s Listing Rules to the greatest extent possible.

The Chamber believes that there are a number of fundamental issues which should be addressed before consideration is given to the issue of whether a Code of Practice for Third Party Funding of Mediation is needed. Should the decision be made to proceed with the implementation of such a code, we would suggest against the replication of contents of the existing code for arbitration given that there are fundamental differences between these two forms of alternative dispute resolution.

The Chamber has called on the Chief Executive to balance Hong Kong’s stringent quarantine and other pandemic-related restrictions against the need to protect public health. The Chamber has also put forward, on behalf of members, other recommendations that span such issues as capitalizing on the Greater Bay Area, addressing manpower needs, optimizing land and housing supply, and building resilience.

The Chamber supports the use of legislation to eliminate disposable plastic tableware from the waste stream, but suggests that consideration should also be given to viable substitutes as an interim means of transitioning away from plastics. Over the long term, there is the need for a holistic approach to eliminating the use of single-use items.

The Chamber welcomes and supports a Member’s Bill as proposed by Ms Elizabeth Quat to incorporate wildlife trafficking and illegal trade crimes into the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance. We believe that by vesting the authorities with greater investigative and punitive powers, this would have the desired effect of reducing wildlife crimes committed in Hong Kong.