Hong Kong, Malaysia eye closer ties, with talk of flights to star Michelle Yeoh’s hometown
- Chief Executive John Lee says city is working with Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formalise Economic and Trade Office
Hong Kong is fostering closer ties with Malaysia and will open a trade office in Kuala Lumpur soon, the city’s leader has said, while the country’s transport minister has hinted at new airline routes to destinations including Ipoh, hometown of Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.
“[We] are working with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formalise the Hong Kong ETO [Economic and Trade Office] in Kuala Lumpur, and in good time,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at a reception on Thursday to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia.
“I am confident that it will soon be easier to communicate Hong Kong’s immense interests and immense opportunities to Malaysian entrepreneurs, investors, students or simply all our other friends in Malaysia.”
Malaysian Minister of Transport Anthony Loke Siew Fook revealed at the reception that he was in talks with Hong Kong Airlines to expand its routes to the country’s capital.
“We are looking forward to another link between Hong Kong and Malaysia,” Loke said.
“We also welcome Hong Kong Airlines, or any other airlines, to fly to our other major cities. For example, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, or even Ipoh, which is the hometown of the award-winning artist Michelle Yeoh.”
Loke also promoted Malaysia as a “strategically located gateway” to Asean, the 10-country trade bloc in Southeast Asia.
“Just like Hong Kong, we also regained our political stability and the current government will continue to govern and rule Malaysia in the next couple of years,” he said.