China Committee
The “Qingdao-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion” conference was held on 25 April in Hong Kong. Meng Qingbin, Chairman of the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the foundation for cooperation between the two economies is solid, with enormous potential for growth. He hoped that Hong Kong’s advantages in international shipping, trade, finance and technology, as well as the platform it provides as a super-connector, could be fully utilized to fulfil Qingdao’s needs. He also discussed deepening cooperation in various fields and sectors.
The need to further strengthen regional cooperation was the focus of the Liaoning Investment Forum, organized by the Liaoning Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on 25 April.
Pang Baoguo, Secretary of the Communist Party of Liaoning CCPIT and President of Liaoning CCPIT, said the establishment of the first domestic “RCEP Think Tank” by the Liaoning CCPIT will provide intellectual support for the integration of businesses from both Hong Kong and Kioaning into the world’s largest free trade mechanism, the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP). It would also help them to jointly explore international markets.
More effort will be put into promoting innovative cooperation and cultural exchanges, driving technological and industrial innovation, strengthening cooperation in education, culture and tourism, and enhancing understanding between the two regions.
Three key zones were promoted during the forum: the Shenfu Reform and Innovation Demonstration Zone, the Dalian Changxing Island Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the Shenyang Area of the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone.
The 2024 CIETAC Greater Bay Area Summit was held in Hong Kong on May 5. In his address, HKSAR Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said the Department of Justice would further leverage Hong Kong’s advantages as a bilingual city with a common law system. Promoting Hong Kong-based arbitration would also enable more Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area enterprises to choose the city as an arbitration venue, helping to build an internationalized business environment in the Greater Bay Area.
The forum was organized by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). HKGCC was one of the supporting organizations.
Then Deputy Chairman Agnes Chan represented the Chamber at the Inauguration of the 7th Council, hosted by the HKCPPCC (Provincial) Members Association Limited on 6 May.
It was a pleasure to welcome Huang Zhihao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and Mayor of Zhuhai, to the Chamber on 7 May.
In a meeting with then Deputy Chairman Agnes Chan, HKGCC LegCo Representative Jeffrey Lam, China Committee Vice Chairman Felix Lee and members, Huang said the Zhuhai government was committed to accelerating the construction of industry 5.0 projects – including building low-cost, high-quality and large-scale factories over 10 million sq m to promote business development.
Zhuhai, which is set to become a medical services hub by 2025, is constructing a dedicated street for Chinese medicine, which is expected to open in the second half of the year. The two sides also discussed trends in finance, healthcare, education, environmental protection and energy, as well as expanding cooperation between the two cities.
Zhang Lei, Director of Publicity and Promotion, Xinjiang Asia-Europe International Expo Co Ltd, called on the Chamber on 7 May. He extended an invitation to Chamber leaders and members to join the Xinjiang Economic and Trade Conference on 17 May, organized by The People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Wendy Lo, Assistant Director, China Affairs and Projects, received the delegation.
Liang Yaobin, Secretary of the Committee of Jinwan District, Zhuhai, visited the Chamber on 9 May. In a meeting with GBA Working Group Convenor Petrina Tam and Felix Lee, China Committee Vice Chairman, Liang explained the District’s economic and trade policies and invited Hong Kong enterprises to develop their business there.
Chamber CEO Patrick Yeung attended the inauguration of the Nansha Hong Kong New Center in Hong Kong on 9 May. HKGCC is a member of the Consultative Committee on Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation (Guangzhou Nansha).
China announced a new set of rules governing outbound transfer of data on 22 March 2024, which aim to facilitate cross-border data transfer while protecting important/sensitive data and personal information. The relaxation of the regulations substantially eases the compliance burden for foreign companies in the Mainland.
Discussing the new requirements at a seminar on 10 May, Chiang Ling Li, Partner at Tiang & Partners, suggested that companies review the new changes, especially the guidelines for identifying important data.
Liu Xiaodi, Director, Foreign Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, Jilin, visited the Chamber on 17 May, where he was received by Edmond Yue, General Committee Member and Belt and Road Working Group Convenor. Jilin saw GDP growth of 6.5% in the first quarter of 2023. The province has ranked first in China in terms of economic growth for two consecutive years.
China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew represented the Chamber at the Xinjiang Economic and Trade Conference on 17 May, which was held to promote the region’s industries, investment environment and tourism resources. The event was organized by the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.
Separately, Yan Junjie, Vice Mayor, People’s Government of Hami City, Xinjiang, led a delegation to the Chamber, where they were received by General Committee Member and Belt and Road Working Group Convenor Edmond Yue.
A meeting on the Promotion and Exchange of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cultural and Creative Industries in the Qianhai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone was held in Hong Kong on 17 May.
Wang Jinxia, Deputy Director of the Qianhai Authority, said the city hoped to ride the wave of technological revolution brought by AI and would work together with Hong Kong to become a smart hub in finance, trade, shipping and cultural exchange in the future. This would further consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as a super connector and super value-adder.
Wang said the next step for Qianhai was to consistently adhere to measures such as relaxing regulations, aligning tax systems, interfacing legal systems and facilitating mechanisms to become a pioneer and leader in institutional innovation.
Chamber Vice Chairman PC Yu represented the HKGCC at the Zhejiang Quzhou Promotion Seminar on 21 May. The event was organized by Zhejiang Quzhou Municipal People’s Government.
A signing ceremony and symposium on building a strategic hinterland for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao was held on 22 May, which was attended by Chamber Vice Chairman PC Yu. The event was organized by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.