Latest Developments in Futian and HTCZ
Ouyang Huiyu, Deputy District Mayor of Futian District People’s Government, who is also Director of the Construction and Development Affairs Office of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (HTCZ), accompanied by Zhu Junwei, Deputy Executive Director of HTCZ, visited the Chamber on 1 February, where they were welcomed by GBA Working Group Convenor Petrina Tam and members. Ouyang introduced the latest developments in Futian and HTCZ. The zone, which straddles the boundary between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, will focus on the development of advanced and finance technologies.
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Reinforcing Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation
Qin Jingteng, Vice Chairman of Shenzhen Federation of Industry & Commerce (Shenzhen General Chamber of Commerce), led a delegation to visit the Chamber on 3 February, where they were welcomed by Chamber Deputy Chairman Agnes Chan, China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew and members. Qin pointed out that currently there were over 40,000 Hong Kong enterprises in Shenzhen, which have contributed significantly to the city’s growth over the past 30 years. They hoped that Hong Kong businesses would continue to invest in Shenzhen to support the development.
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Edmond Yew, Vice Chairman of the China Committee, represented the Chamber at a spring dinner hosted by the Federation of Hong Kong Shenzhen Associates on 3 February.
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Mission to Nansha
China Committee Chairman Eric Fok and GBA Working Group Convenor Petrina Tam were invited to join a delegation to Nansha, led by CY Leung, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, on 6 and 7 February. It was the first delegation to the Mainland from Hong Kong since the borders reopened.
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Members participated in the Hubei-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Conference organized by the Department of Commerce of Hubei Province on 7 February. The conference focused on key industries, which included modern service industries, finance, culture and tourism, and airport logistics.
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A number of China Committee members attended the Guangdong Investment Trade Policy Conference on 8 February. At the seminar, Zhang Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, briefed Hong Kong enterprises on its latest investment policies.
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China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew participated in Nanjing’s conference for Hong Kong & Macao on 8 February titled “High Quality Development & Further Opening Up of the Services Sector.” The event was hosted by the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and Nanjing Municipal People’s Government.
Chen Zhichang, Mayor of Nanjing Municipal People’s Government, speaking at the conference, highlighted that Hong Kong had become the largest source of investment in Nanjing and also operated the largest logistics base.
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Deepening Cooperation with Nansha
Ruan Xiaohong, a member of CPC Nansha District Committee, led a delegation to the Chamber on 10 February, where they were welcomed by General Committee Member & China Committee Chairman Eric Fok.
Ruan introduced Nansha’s plan to deepen cooperation with other GBA cities, including Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. The plan, which was launched in June last year, focuses on five key areas of development: innovation and technology; youth innovation and entrepreneurship; quality investment; regulations and connectivity; and high-quality urban development.
Fok said that the Chamber would continue to serve as a connector between Hong Kong and Nansha enterprises, as well as be the facilitator to help youths seize opportunities in the GBA.
Both parties also discussed plans for the Chamber to visit Nansha in March. The mission will be our first trip to the GBA since the pandemic. Members will have the opportunity to experience how Nansha has transformed itself over the past few years.
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You Ying, General Director, Department of Commerce of Jiangxi Province, led a delegation to the Chamber on 13 February to promote Jiangxi. China Committee Vice Chairman SH Chan welcomed the visitors who explained that despite being seriously hit by Covid last year, its GDP nonetheless grew by 4.7%. The province has been strengthening economic cooperation with cities in the GBA in recent years, and Hong Kong remains the largest source of foreign direct investment in Jiangxi.
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Eric Fok, General Committee Member and Chairman of the China Committee, attended the 2023 Guangzhou Hong Kong Spring Dinner, which was organized by Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government, on 13 February. Over 300 representatives from regional governments and organizations attended the event.
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The Chamber’s Deputy Chairman Agnes Chan and members attended Hainan’s Free Trade Port promotion conference titled “New Era, New Opening Up, New Business Opportunities” on 15 February. The event, organized by the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, promoted investment opportunities in key industries operating in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
In the afternoon, Chan, together with five major local chambers leaders, met with the Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee Shen Xiaoming, and shared her suggestions for enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and Hainan.
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China Committee Chairman Eric Fok, Vice Chairman Edmond Yew, and GBA Working Group Convenor Petrina Tam attended the GBA Trade Cooperation Seminar and Dinner on 15 February. The events were organized by CCPIT to inform participants about the latest economic and trade policies relating to GBA cities.
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SH Chan, Vice Chairman of the China Committee, welcomed a delegation to the Chamber on 16 February, which is led by Yang Yong, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Yang said that CCPIT strived to promote all-round cooperation and exchanges in these changing times. Chan said he believed that CCPIT and the Chamber could work together to help members connect with companies in the GBA to develop business and cooperation.
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Wang Mingfu, Director General of Haikou Commerce Bureau, visited the Chamber on 16 February, and was welcomed by SH Chan, China Committee Vice Chairman and members, to discuss how to deepen cooperation and a possible visit to Haikou.
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Shenzhen Longgang Business Environment Promotion Seminar
Zhang Li Wei, Secretary of District Party Committee of Longgang District in Shenzhen, led a delegation to Hong Kong and officiated at the Shenzhen Longgang Business Environment Promotion Seminar on 16 February. Petrina Tam, Convenor of the Chamber’s GBA Working Group, represented the Chamber to give a speech at the seminar. She said that the Chamber led a 40-member delegation to Longgang four years ago, and the visit was a real eye-opening experience. She added that she was looking forward to seeing how Longgang has changed since the last visit.
Zhang briefed participants about the latest developments in Longgang, and he hoped to gain a better understanding of Hong Kong entrepreneurs’ needs to help them do business in the district.
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Fan Defan, Head of Luohu District, introduced the new development plan for the area at the Shenzhen (Luohu) Investment Seminar on 17 February, and later officiated at a signing ceremony for new projects.
In the afternoon, Eric Fok, General Committee Member & Chairman of the China Committee, received a delegation led by Xue Jiang, the Head of the District’s Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau. Both parties discussed potential cooperation in sports and cultural tourism, as well as technological innovation and business services.
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Petrina Tam, GBA Working Group Convenor, delivered a speech on 22 February at the Investment in Tianjin for Key Entrepreneurs Conference, which was hosted by Zhu Peng, Vice Mayor of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government. She said that the Chamber would continue to be a connector and actively promote business cooperation between Tianjin and Hong Kong, as well as assist Tianjin enterprises in entering international markets.
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China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew represented the Chamber at the “21st High-Level Roundtable Meeting among Key Chambers of Commerce in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao,” which took place in Macao on 23 February. In his speech at the event, Yew shared his suggestions on growing cooperation within the GBA in the post-pandemic era.
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Welcoming Mainland Delegations
With the borders reopened, organizations from various Mainland provinces and cities have been visiting Hong Kong to introduce their latest business and investment policies. Chamber Assistant Director of China Affairs & Projects Wendy Lo received delegates and discussed opportunities for collaboration with: Yan Wanting, Director of Zhuhai Investment Promotion Department in Shenzhen; Donald Choi, Director of Hezhou New Area Investment Promotion Center; Jerry Wang, CEO of Hainan Free Trade Port Fullsing Internet Industrial Park; and Liz Li, Talent Activities Department Manager of Shenzhen Qianhai International Talent Service Center Co Ltd.