Hong Kong will be ‘superconnector’ in region, John Lee tells youth business summit
City leader stresses strong ties with Taiwan, while Kuomintang vice-chairman Sean Lien expresses ‘confidence’ in people of Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s leader has told a forum for young entrepreneurs the city will be a “superconnector and super value-adder” in coordinating regional development, saying ties between the financial hub and its regional partners, including Taiwan, have always been close.
“The Pearl River Delta region was the first base for many Taiwanese companies expanding into mainland China, and many Taiwanese businesspeople have already integrated into the region’s industrial chain,” he said.
Lee said Taiwan and Hong Kong had always enjoyed close ties, with the self-ruled island being the city’s second-largest merchandise trading partner in 2023 – just behind the mainland – while Hong Kong was the fourth-largest trading partner for both the mainland and Taiwan.
“As the Greater Bay Area is achieving high-quality development, I am confident that entrepreneurs on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will seize the opportunity and write a new chapter for coordinated regional development,” Lee said, referring to Beijing’s blueprint to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities into an economic powerhouse.
“[Hong Kong] will consolidate its commercial and trade network connecting the world, and play the role of superconnector and super value-adder for coordinated regional development.”