Hong Kong can be a ‘powerful connection point’ for Belt and Road countries, city’s chief executive tells business summit
Carrie Lam and other city officials keen to stress the advantages Hong Kong can offer as part of Greater Bay Area plan, but businesspeople say more can be done
Hong Kong’s leaders were out in force on Thursday to promote the city’s advantages to capitalise on two ambitious technology and trade initiatives, but businesspeople urged the government to offer them more incentives.
Lam, along with two other ministers, emphasised Hong Kong’s role in connecting global businesses and championing free trade, pointing out that the “one country, two systems” model of governance was its “singular most important advantage”.
Under the principle, Beijing guaranteed Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy after it was handed over from British rule in 1997.
But even as Lam and the city’s financial and commerce chiefs highlighted what Hong Kong had to offer in areas such as finance and innovation, other local panellists said the government could do more to help Hong Kong businesses better position themselves amid intense international competition.