China Committee
Edmond Yew, Vice Chairman of the China Committee, along with several members, attended the Hainan-Hong Kong Financial Industry Cooperation Exchange Meeting on 31 October.
In his speech, Yew expressed the Chamber’s commitment to further explore diverse cooperation pathways in the financial sector. Emphasizing the need to facilitate smoother connections between Hong Kong’s international capital and Hainan’s industries and projects, he said this would also assist Mainland assets in achieving global and diversified allocation through Hainan as a gateway.
In cutting-edge areas such as green finance and fintech, he said the two regions could fully leverage their advantages as “testing grounds” to conduct pilot projects and exploratory initiatives in policy and product development.
Hainan Free Trade Port will implement island-wide independent customs operations by 18 December, becoming China’s first pilot zone to operate under a “whole-island simulated offshore” mechanism. The initiative aims to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation through the policy framework of frontline liberalisation, secondary line control and free flow within the island.
HKGCC Chairman Agnes Chan, China Committee Vice Chairman Neo Wang and members welcomed Wang Wenxu, Director of the Zhejiang United Front Work Department, to the Chamber on 4 November.
Zhejiang Province has maintained steady economic growth, with its GDP reaching RMB 6.8 trillion in the third quarter, up 5.7% year on year. This reflects the province’s strong innovation momentum and high level of openness.
Currently, over 3,000 Zhejiang enterprises operate in Hong Kong. The annual trade volume between Zhejiang and Hong Kong has reached USD 8.82 billion, underscoring the close economic and trade ties between the two regions. Wang said many Zhejiang enterprises are actively leveraging Hong Kong as an international platform to expand into global markets and advance their global expansion strategies.
Chan noted that the Chamber’s Young Executives’ Club could explore collaborating with the Zhejiang Young Entrepreneurs Association to jointly support youth development and provide greater opportunities for exchange and growth among young people in both regions.
Jens Ewert, Vice Chair of Deloitte Asia-Pacific and Senior Partner of Deloitte China, spoke at a luncheon roundtable on 3 November, themed “China's Smart Healthcare Innovations: Leveraging AI and Big Data.”
Ewert shared invaluable insights from Deloitte's recent white paper, "China's Smart Healthcare," delving into how intelligent technologies such as AI, Big Data, 5G, and IoT are driving the sector's transformation. His talk provided a comprehensive overview of China's evolving healthcare sector, the critical role of intelligent technologies and an in-depth analysis of the latest technological advancements reshaping the industry.
Chamber Vice Chairman PC Yu met with Zhang Qun, Vice Chairman of the Shandong Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, on 5 November.
Shandong Province has demonstrated steady economic performance this year, with its GDP growing by 5.6%, surpassing the national average by 0.2 percentage points. Zhang said the province's current GDP stands at RMB 7 trillion, and it is expected to exceed RMB 10 trillion by the end of the year.
According to Liu Aili, Vice Chair of the Shandong Federation of Industry and Commerce, Shandong has been working with Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to bring the province’s specialty agricultural products to the Hong Kong market, where they have been well received. Liu expressed hope for further cooperation with Hong Kong, which would allow more of its high-quality products to reach international markets via the city while deepening economic and trade exchanges.
At a luncheon on 7 November, Dr Tse Kwok Leung, Senior Research Fellow (Honorary) at the Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance at CUHK, shared valuable insights with the Hong Kong business community on China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.
Dr Tse provided a timely and in-depth analysis of the plan’s strategic direction and key development priorities. He highlighted several areas where Hong Kong can play a pivotal role during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, including helping Mainland enterprises expand overseas and export their products, leveraging its free port status and global trade networks. He noted Hong Kong’s critical role as an international financial centre, providing financing channels for Mainland firms, and its potential to attract global talent through advanced education and innovation.
HKGCC Deputy Chairman Peter Lam and Vice Chairman PC Yu attended the opening ceremony of the 28th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium on 12 November. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee and Beijing Mayor Yin Yong each delivered speeches at the conference. Following the opening ceremony, a thematic promotional event was held to highlight the investment advantages and potential for cooperation between Beijing and Hong Kong.
China Committee members visited Anhui from 12-17 November for a retreat titled “Joining Forces for Science and Technology Innovation and Collaborating to Expand Overseas." The event was organized by the Anhui Fraternity Association (Hong Kong). Members also toured Xuan Paper Town in Xuancheng City and Huangshan Mountain, among other areas.
Chamber Chairman Agnes Chan attended the Beijing-Hong Kong Digital Economy Enterprise Overseas Expansion Service Symposium, hosted by the China Overseas Friendship Association, on 12 November.
Jiang Guangzhi, Party Secretary and Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, along with representatives from multiple Beijing-based enterprises, also attended the event.
Chamber Chairman Agnes Chan, CEO Patrick Yeung and China Committee Chairman Felix Lee attended the 23rd Roundtable Conference to Foster Economic Cooperation in the Pearl River Delta on 14 November.
Chan emphasized Hong Kong’s unique position as an international hub and a vital pillar for driving high-quality development in the GBA. A powerhouse of growth, data shows the region’s economy expanded to RMB 14.79 trillion in 2024, surpassing both the New York and San Francisco bay areas and cementing its position among the world’s leading economic hubs.
Hong Kong’s global connectivity and financial expertise improve the GBA’s overall development efficiency and bolster collaborative efforts to create a world-class bay area. Chan noted that these advantages help open up vast business opportunities while supporting sustainable, long-term economic integration across cities in the region.