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2020 Policy Address Supplement (Extract)

Chapter V

Unlimited Business Opportunities

Hong Kong has been acclaimed as the world’s most open, freest and most competitive city by many international organisations. Leveraging our unique strengths under “One Country, Two Systems”, we will continue to provide a business-friendly environment, uphold operation of the market and promote free trade. We will also strive to develop new areas of economic growth.

The National 13th Five-Year Plan pledges support for Hong Kong to reinforce and enhance its status as an international financial, transport and trade centre; develop its innovation and technology (I&T) industry; and establish itself as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. The Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development have brought enormous opportunities for the economic development of Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will do its best as a “facilitator” and “promoter”, seizing opportunities to actively connect with the world to explore more business opportunities.

Progress Made

Belt and Road Initiative

  • Signed the “Arrangement between the National Development and Reform Commission and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative” (the Arrangement) in December 2017. The Joint Conference mechanism set up between Hong Kong and the relevant Mainland authorities on the implementation of the Arrangement held its third meeting in August 2020. Launched the Belt and Road Joint Conference Policy Exchange and Capacity Building Programme in December 2019 to forge collaboration on capacity building with relevant Mainland authorities for enhanced professionalism.

  • Established the Mainland and Hong Kong Belt and Road Task Group to co-ordinate related matters in the trade and economic co-operation areas by the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce. The second high-level meeting was held in November 2019.

  • Formulated a five-pronged Belt and Road key strategy (viz. enhancing policy co-ordination; fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages; making the best use of Hong Kong’s position as a professional services hub; promoting project participation; and establishing partnership and collaboration to guide the HKSAR Government’s participation in and contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative).

  • Co-organised the fourth annual Belt and Road Summit with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) on 11 and 12 September 2019, which attracted around 5 000 government officials, entrepreneurs and professionals from nearly 70 countries and regions. More than 700 one-on-one business matching meetings for over 240 projects were staged. The fifth Summit in dual track (online and offline) will be held on 30 November to 1 December 2020.

  • Established exchange and collaboration platforms for promoting Belt and Road participation of Hong Kong enterprises and professional services sector, including the seminar on “Strategies and Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative – Leveraging Hong Kong’s Advantages, Meeting the Country’s Needs” in Beijing in February 2018, and sharing sessions under the theme “Belt and Road: Hong Kong-IN”, etc.

  • Supported HKTDC’s enhancement of its Belt and Road Portal for a more comprehensive and up-to-date onestop Belt and Road platform in July 2019 and its introduction of SME Transformation Sandbox in April 2020 to support enterprises in capitalising on new business opportunities, including at the Mainland’s overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones (ETCZs).

  • Carried out a number of business and professional missions to Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe, etc., to showcase Hong Kong’s professional strengths and seek out new business prospects.

  • Secured the support of the Ministry of Commerce to promote interested Hong Kong enterprises to establish presence in the Mainland’s overseas ETCZs.

Supporting Technology Enterprises

  • Took forward the experience-sharing and business-promotion platform established in conjunction with the HKTDC and I&T sector in June 2020, to share with overseas governments and markets Hong Kong’s research outcome and experience in applying technology to fight the epidemic and address livelihood needs, especially the Belt and Road countries, and at the same time open up more business opportunities for Hong Kong’s I&T sector.

New Initiatives

Reconnect with Markets and Explore New Opportunities

  • Support interested Hong Kong enterprises and the professional services sector to explore opportunities in the Mainland’s overseas ETCZs by promoting pilot matching of selected ETCZs in ASEAN with such enterprises with a view to enhancing business collaboration.

  • Launch a Mainland Enterprises Partnership Exchange and Interface Programme to serve as a “one-stop” platform for fostering exchanges and business matching with Hong Kong professional services sector. Stage the second edition of the Belt and Road Joint Conference Policy Exchange and Capacity Building Programme in conjunction with relevant Mainland authorities with a view to jointly enhancing professional capacity for pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative.