The Bulletin

China in Focus

The Bulletin. October 2023

China Connections

Zeng Fengbao, Mayor of Shantou, Guangdong, led a delegation to the Chamber on 29 August, where they were welcomed by HKGCC LegCo Representative Jeffrey Lam and CEO Patrick Yeung.
Zeng said Shantou is promoting the high-quality development of its toy industry, which is mostly concentrated in the city of Chenghai, known as “China’s toy capital.” Lam said focus should be put on developing brand image, improving quality, and protecting the intellectual property rights of products.
Shantou has also been actively working to improve and expand its transportation infrastructure. The Guangzhou-Shanwei high-speed railway, expected to open in late September, reduces travel between the two cities to 90 minutes. Zeng hoped the new link would attract more visitors to Shantou for tourism, investment and business.

Lu Feng, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, led a delegation to the Chamber on 5 September. They were welcomed by Jack Chan, Chairman of the Financial & Treasury Services Committee, and other committee chairmen. At the meeting, members discussed Hong Kong’s economy, the difficulties they faced in running a business and their hopes for government support and unification.

Wang Shourui, Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, visited the Chamber on 7 September for a meeting with Chamber Chairman Betty Yuen, CEO Patrick Yeung and members. Wang gave a presentation on the latest developments in Shenzhen, especially the Shenzhen Hetao cooperation zone and Qianhai. The Hetao cooperation zone comprises different industries, including medical technology, artificial intelligence and data science, among others. The Shenzhen Government is encouraging Hong Kong enterprises to conduct business in the cooperation zone and learn more about the unique operating environment.

A delegation from CCPIT, Xiamen led by Chairman Ke Biru called on the Chamber on 11 September, where they met Chamber CEO Patrick Yeung.
The two sides discussed opportunities in supply chain management, air cargo services, talent admission and business consultation, as well as promoting cooperation and deepening ties between the two sides. Ke invited the Chamber to attend the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) next year. The annual fair, endorsed by China’s State Council, is held every September in Xiamen.

Jia Sun, Economist, Hong Kong Financial Research Institute of Bank of China (Hong Kong) discussed China’s economic development and the impact on Hong Kong at the China Committee Meeting on 20 September.

The 2023 Hong Kong-Mainland Joint Business Liaison Committee Meeting on 15 September was attended by around 65 representatives from the CCPIT, HKGCC, CMA, CGCC and FHKI, as well as trade promotion organizations and chambers from Hong Kong and the Mainland. Topics of discussion included further collaboration between committee members, ASEAN and Belt and Road opportunities, and Hong Kong’s integration into the development of the Greater Bay Area.

China Committee

Meeting with Shantou Mayor

Zeng Fengbao, Mayor of Shantou, Guangdong, led a delegation to the Chamber on 29 August, where they were welcomed by HKGCC LegCo Representative Jeffrey Lam and CEO Patrick Yeung.

Zeng said Shantou is promoting the high-quality development of its toy industry, which is mostly concentrated in the city of Chenghai, known as “China’s toy capital.” Lam said focus should be put on developing brand image, improving quality, and protecting the intellectual property rights of products.

Shantou has also been actively working to improve and expand its transportation infrastructure. The Guangzhou-Shanwei high-speed railway, which opened in late September, reduces travel between the two cities to 90 minutes. Zeng hoped the new link would attract more visitors to Shantou for tourism, investment and business.

Lu Feng, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, led a delegation to the Chamber on 5 September. They were welcomed by Jack Chan, Chairman of the Financial & Treasury Services Committee, and other committee chairmen. At the meeting, members discussed Hong Kong’s economy, the difficulties they faced in running a business and their hopes for government support and unification.

The Chamber signed an MoU with the Shanghai Minhang District Investment Promotion Center at the Shanghai Minhang Investment Promotion Conference in Hong Kong on 31 August. Chamber Vice Chairman Douglas Woo represented HKGCC at the event, which was hosted by the Shanghai Minhang District People’s Government and Oriental Pearl Group Co Ltd.

The policy advantages offered by Minhang District include support funds of up to RMB 10 million for the biopharmaceutical industry, industrialization schemes for important products and major projects for Shanghai’s strategic emerging industries. Advanced manufacturing projects may be eligible for subsidies proportional to investment, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 20 million. For the modern service industry, Shanghai offers one-time rewards of up to

RMB 6 million, as well as housing rental subsidies of up to RMB 10 million for regional headquarters and headquarters-type institutions of multinational companies in the city.

Wang Shourui, Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, visited the Chamber on 7 September for a meeting with Chamber Chairman Betty Yuen, CEO Patrick Yeung and members. Wang gave a presentation on the latest developments in Shenzhen, especially the Shenzhen Hetao cooperation zone and Qianhai. The Hetao cooperation zone comprises different industries, including medical technology, artificial intelligence and data science, among others. The Shenzhen Government is encouraging Hong Kong enterprises to conduct business in the cooperation zone and learn more about the unique operating environment.

A delegation from CCPIT, Xiamen led by Chairman Ke Biru called on the Chamber on 11 September, where they met Chamber CEO Patrick Yeung.

The two sides discussed opportunities in supply chain management, air cargo services, talent admission and business consultation, as well as promoting cooperation and deepening ties between the two sides. Ke invited the Chamber to attend the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) next year. The annual fair, endorsed by China’s State Council, is held every September in Xiamen.

Jia Sun, Economist, Hong Kong Financial Research Institute of Bank of China (Hong Kong)‭ ‬discussed China’s economic development and the impact on Hong Kong at the China Committee Meeting on 20 September.

The launch ceremony of the Yunnan Enterprise Branch of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and the Yunnan-Hong Kong Enterprise Exchange Meeting took place in Hong Kong on 14 September. The event was officiated by Yang Mu, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, Chen Baili, Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, Yu Xiao, Vice President and President of the Hong Kong Enterprise Association, and HKGCC CEO Patrick Yeung.

Chamber members attended the debut “Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development” in Macao on 14-15 September. The event was jointly hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the HKSAR Government, and the Macao SAR Government. The symposium, which drew nearly 1,000 local and international participants from the political and business arenas, offered a platform for domestic and overseas business sectors to further develop the GBA and to promote cooperation.

The 2023 Hong Kong-Mainland Joint Business Liaison Committee Meeting on 15 September was attended by around 65 representatives from the CCPIT, HKGCC, CMA, CGCC and FHKI, as well as trade promotion organizations and chambers from Hong Kong and the Mainland. Topics of discussion included further collaboration between committee members, ASEAN and Belt and Road opportunities, and Hong Kong’s integration into the development of the Greater Bay Area.

The “Hainan-Hong Kong Innovation and Entrepreneurship Promotional Seminar” took place in Hong Kong on 13 September. Meng Wei, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, said Hainan had the advantage of implementing free trade port policies in the Mainland. He added that the two economies should strengthen cooperation, and encouraged young Hong Kong entrepreneurs to consider launching their business in Hainan, which offers many support measures for private enterprises.

Eric Fok, Chairman of the China Committee, represented the Chamber at the 2023 World Guangdong Business Conference in Guangzhou on 21-23 September. Held under the theme “Global Cantonese Businessmen, World Bay Area, Shared Future,” it was hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

GBA Working Group

The Chamber led a successful mission to the districts of Zengcheng and Conghua in Guangdong on 21-22 September. The 18-member delegation included Chamber CEO Patrick Yeung, Petrina Tam, Convenor of the GBA Working Group, General Committee member Edmond Yue, and China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew.

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