China Committee
Chamber Vice Chairman PC Yu attended the Qinghai Investment Promotion Conference and dinner on 21 February. The event aimed to deepen cooperation between Qinghai and Hong Kong, open up new areas and foster momentum while unlocking further opportunities.
Li Lirong, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, visited the Chamber on 24 February. The delegation was received by Felix Lee, Chairman of the China Committee.
Li highlighted Shenzhen’s key economic priorities, including AI, EVs, biotechnology and the low-altitude airspace economy, which are shaping the city’s long-term development strategy. She hoped to strengthen ties between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, thus establishing concrete mechanisms for cooperation.
She also highlighted Shenzhen’s focus on Greater Bay Area collaboration, providing platforms for enterprises to expand globally. Healthcare is a key area for cooperation, with a dedicated working group exploring specialist training aligned with international standards and the integration of Hong Kong’s healthcare vouchers. Li welcomed feedback on Shenzhen’s policies for Hong Kong residents to support businesses and individuals better.
A delegation of 38 members, led by China Committee Chairman Felix Lee and Roy Ng, General Committee member and Convenor of the Health & Wellness Working Group, visited Guangzhou on 27 February to explore potential business ventures in the biopharmaceutical and health industries.
The delegates were received by officials and leaders of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, the Healthcare Security Administration of Guangdong, the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, and the Guangzhou Investment and Development Commission.
GoGBA Development Day
Members attended the HKTDC’s GoGBA Development Day on 28 February, a seminar for Hong Kong enterprises to learn about the latest advancements in science and technology innovation within the GBA.
They also explored how SMEs can adapt their corporate strategies to leverage the region’s benefits and innovation developments. By fostering and stimulating new growth momentum, enterprises can seize opportunities arising from China’s “new quality productivity” development strategy.
Aaron Liu, Director-General of Trade and Industry, joined the China Committee meeting on 14 March to share insights into Hong Kong’s trade performance and updates to the CEPA Amendment Agreement II.
Key highlights include removing restrictions on equity shareholding, relaxing business scope and professional qualification requirements and incorporating liberalization measures.
CEPA remains the most liberal FTA with the Mainland, opening up 153 service sectors and offering “Most-Favoured Treatment” provisions. The updates mark another step towards deeper economic integration, especially in the GBA.
China Committee Chairman Felix Lee attended the Dongguan-Hong Kong Industrial Cooperation Exchange Seminar on 17 March. The meeting resulted in 33 signed agreements, with aggregate investment and trade cooperation amounting to RMB 18.47 billion, revealing immense potential for future collaboration and development between Dongguan and Hong Kong.
China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew represented the Chamber at the Spring Festival Symposium hosted by the Foshan Municipal Government on 17 March.
Foshan is a key city within the GBA. Over the past three years, the city’s annual investment in industrial technological upgrades has exceeded RMB 80 billion. More than 7,000 industrial enterprises in Foshan have implemented digital transformation, accounting for over 70% of the total number of enterprises at or above the designated size.
Lu Xiangyu, Deputy Director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Commerce, called on the Chamber on 17 March. In a meeting with General Committee member Edmond Yue, Lu highlighted Heilongjiang’s strong economic foundation, noting that Hong Kong is Heilongjiang’s largest trading partner. He highlighted the province’s abundant resources, with Heilongjiang leading the country in grain production for 15 consecutive years. The province also boasts 27 national first-class ports, including 19 border ports, providing a multi-layered platform for international cooperation.
He noted the complementary strengths between Hong Kong and Heilongjiang, particularly in leveraging Heilongjiang’s strategic location to facilitate entry into the Russian and Northeast Asian markets. He also pointed to the 9th Asian Winter Games. With an RMB 2-3 billion budget, the Games demonstrated the province’s ability to manage large-scale international projects efficiently.
Lu expressed hope for stronger economic ties between Hong Kong and Heilongjiang, fostering deeper collaborations in trade, investment and beyond.
Bernard Aw, Chief Economist of Coface for Asia Pacific, and Junyu Tan, Regional Economist for North Asia shared their insights on the outlook for China and the global economy at a seminar on 18 March.
Over the past year, global economies have diverged in their growth trajectories. Asian economies are grappling with slowing growth amid weaker Chinese performance and diminishing external demand.
The outlook for 2025 poses additional challenges, with tariffs and trade restrictions creating business uncertainty and the risk of trade retaliation. Amid these uncertainties, U.S. tariffs and domestic stimulus measures will be the key factors shaping China’s economic trajectory.
Wang Qiang, Standing Committee Member of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Director of the United Front Work Department, visited the Chamber on 18 March.
During a meeting with Chamber Chairman Agnes Chan, Wang emphasized Shenzhen’s robust industrial performance, noting that its industrial output reached RMB 5.4 trillion, accompanied by a 9.7% increase in industrial added value. He emphasized Hong Kong’s role as a key financial hub that supports Shenzhen’s international expansion. Shenzhen has 2.4 million private enterprises, contributing 56.7% of the city’s GDP.
Wang stated that Hong Kong served as a “teacher” for Shenzhen, assisting local companies in their international expansion. He also advocated for increased collaboration between the two cities.
Li Xiaoping, Standing Committee Member of the Jiaxing Municipal Party Committee and Director of the United Front Work Department of Zhejiang Province called on the Chamber on 18 March. He was welcomed by China Committee Chairman Felix Lee.
Li highlighted Jiaxing’s key industries, including petrochemicals, photovoltaic technology, EVs and food production. He emphasized Zhejiang’s importance in national development strategies, such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Belt and Road Initiative and Yangtze River Delta Integration, all involving the province.
Li said Jiaxing was home to 91 listed companies, ranking third in the province, with a significant number of Hong Kong-owned businesses. Commending Hong Kong for its strong position as an international financial centre, he expressed interest in enhancing cooperation, particularly helping local companies with listings and expanding their financial capabilities.
China Committee Chairman Felix Lee and Vice Chairman Edmond Yew attended the 137th Canton Fair Promotion Seminar on 18 March.
General Committee Member Emil Yu received Zheng Jianmin, Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Chairman of the CPPCC Dongguan Municipal Committee, and his delegation on 19 March. The two sides explored the possibility of setting up a mechanism to strengthen cooperation and promote the high-quality development of Dongguan and Hong Kong.
General Committee member Edmond Yue and China Committee Vice Chairman Edmond Yew represented the Chamber at the Heilongjiang Hong Kong Economic, Trade, Cultural and Tourism Investment Cooperation Exchange Conference on 20 March.
The event aimed to deepen the economic and trade cooperation between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong. It also promoted Heilongjiang’s advantages and development opportunities in opening up to the outside world, modern agriculture and cultural tourism.
Besides offering a platform for business exchanges, it sought to expand cooperation.
Members attended the 2025 Cherry Blossom Viewing: Business Cooperation & Fortune Global 500 Dialogue with Hubei on 20-21 March in Wuhan. Hosted by the Hubei Government, The event brought together leaders of state departments, ministries and commissions, executives from Fortune Global 500 companies and Hubei’s prominent business leaders, who shared about the province’s latest developments and export-oriented economy.