As readers may know, I will soon step down as CEO of the Chamber. My final farewell will come later, but as I start my countdown, I have been reviewing what I have helped to achieve, and the lessons learnt along the way.

Looking back over the past eight years, one thing stands out – the Chamber can only be as strong as its members!

We have a truly diverse and international membership, from SMEs to MNCs, representing just about every sector and providing us with unrivalled business knowledge.

It is this expertise that gives HKGCC its considerable clout in the business community and beyond, and it provides a very strong backing for our policy advocacy work – the very essence of a business chamber. 

Some of HKGCC’s recent policy achievements include a two-tiered tax system to help start-ups and SMEs, refinements to the Competition Ordinance, and providing a code of conduct for our members. We continue to promote environmental consciousness among all sectors, from real estate to finance, and continue to hone CEPA in our regular submissions to the HKSAR and Mainland governments. 

To keep up the high standards of our policy work, we continue to recruit new members. As the business environment evolves, we particularly welcome applications from start-ups in the innovation and technology spheres. 

And of course, we sincerely want to retain our current members. As it is renewal time for many of you, I’d like to remind you that, besides all of the services and benefits your Chamber membership provides, qualified members are also eligible to vote for the Chamber’s Representative in the upcoming LegCo Functional Constituency election.

Those who have been a Full Member of HKGCC and have been operating for at least 12 months before the application deadline of 2 May, and meet the other terms laid out in the Legislative Council Ordinance, are entitled to apply to the Registration and Electoral Office for registration as a corporate elector in the Commercial (First) Functional Constituency. 

This means that our members have a direct line of communication with the Government and are able to select their dedicated representation in LegCo. 

The next election will be held in September, so I’d like to urge you all to register to vote if you are eligible and not yet done so. In the current climate, it is particularly important that our voice is heard, so we can continue to work together to make a better Hong Kong.

Shirley Yuen
[email protected]