Panel on aligning economies defended as more than talk shop
The government said its panel to bring Hong Kong in line with the mainland's economic blueprint would be more than mere a talk shop, as it named 33 top business leaders, unionists and academics in the city who will take part.
Top officials will also be present at the summit, scheduled for September 11. The panel will identify strategic issues, and the four focus groups of the summit - trade and business; professional services, innovation and technology and tourism; financial services; and maritime, logistics and infrastructure - will map out details.
The panel was announced by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen at a Legislative Council question-and-answer session in mid-May as a way to make Hong Kong a more effective intermediary for China's development.
A government spokesman insisted the summit would be a platform to come up with proposals of strategic importance.
'The panellists will come up with concrete suggestions on areas of trade, business, financial services and so on. Action plans will be drawn out by those focus groups after several months' of discussion.'
Each of the four focus group will have to submit an agenda setting out follow-up actions to Mr Tsang by the end of the year.
The Economic Summit on China's 11th Five-Year Plan and the Development of Hong Kong will be held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Each panellist will have to join one of the four concurrent focus groups. More members will join the focus group if the need arises, the spokesman added.
Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen, the chairman of HSBC, who was earlier reported to be among the panelists, was not named yesterday because he will not be able to attend the September 11 meeting.
The ministers to take part in the summit include Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma Si-hang, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip Shu-kwan, and Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Joseph Wong Wing-ping.
Legislator Patrick Lau Sau-shing, one of the panellists, is confident the economic summit will provide feasible proposals to help Hong Kong face up its challenges as different views from across the city will be absorbed.
'Hong Kong should make use of its international exposure to act as a window and bridge for China to bring benefits to both places,' Dr Lau said.
The lawmaker, who represents the architectural, surveying and planning sector, also suggested Hong Kong come up with its own five-year plan to cope with its counterpart on the mainland.
'Under the principle of one country and two systems, Hong Kong has its own needs and concerns. Hong Kong should take into consideration its own needs while responding to development on the mainland,' he said.
