It is a great honour to have been elected HKGCC Chairman for 2024-25, following the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting on 10 May. I would like to express my sincere thanks to my predecessor Betty Yuen for her expert leadership over two difficult years as Hong Kong strove to reopen and regain normalcy after the pandemic. 

As an active member of the Chamber for over 30 years, it is a privilege to take on this responsibility to continue to serve the business community and members.

Hong Kong is unique under the “One Country, Two Systems” governing principle, with a free economy that boasts a robust financial market, free flow of information, goods, capital and talent, and a tax-friendly system. Hong Kong’s strengths also lie in its international connectivity, and in chasing economic recovery it is vital to cast our nets wider in the world, which will open doors to new prospects.

Leveraging on the city’s role as a super-connector between the Mainland and the global economy, the Chamber will continue to organize more missions to China as well as diverse overseas markets, such as ASEAN and the Middle East, to grow business networks and attract investment. The Chamber is also forging stronger connections with cities in the Greater Bay Area to promote knowledge-sharing and better integration.

Later this year, the Chamber will host an international business summit, inviting prominent local and international business leaders and C-suite executives to share their insights into navigating the challenging global landscape and strategies to spur economic growth. We will also increase collaboration with international chambers in Hong Kong. Building on these partnerships will help members to meet and do business with their foreign counterparts in various sectors.

A strong China is integral to Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity. During the Two Sessions in Beijing, the authorities revealed a raft of measures to promote the nation’s development, which are already being deployed. According to the action plan released in March by the General Office of the State Council, China is pushing high-level opening-up with supportive policies that incentivize foreign companies to expand their operations in the country. With all these tools in the toolbox, I fully expect that the Mainland will achieve its target of 5% growth this year.

As an open economy backed by China’s strong support, Hong Kong is well positioned to leverage on its many advantages. As we grow our international connections, we must grab every chance to share good stories about our city and our country, and elevate Hong Kong’s standing as one of the world’s leading financial, trading and transportation hubs.

Agnes Chan
[email protected]