4th February 2023 – (Hong Kong) Chief Executive John led a delegation of government officials and industry representatives to fly to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this afternoon. They will return to Hong Kong 11th February.
The delegation includes Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, Director of Information Services, Fletch Chan Wai-wai, Acting “Belt and Road” Commissioner Wong Chung-yin, and more than 30 representatives from the finance industry, commerce and trade sector, professional services, infrastructure and development industry, innovation and technology industry, transportation & logistics industry and other sectors. Lee said that all representatives have a good network of contacts, and he believes that they can play a role in promoting Hong Kong. Lee and the delegates will first visit Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, before going to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Monday (6th) evening, and thy will go to Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday (8th).
The delegation will meet with local political and business leaders, inspect local companies, and introduce the latest developments and opportunities in Hong Kong. Lee said that both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are very successful economies with a good development vision and blueprint. The two places have diversified development and strong productivity. He believes the cooperation between Middle East and Hong Kong can be expanded. Lee added that Hong Kong will become an innovation and technology centre and a centre for art exchange between China and the West, which will provide unlimited opportunities for the development of the two places.
Hong Kong also has a lot of talents, and there are opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure, logistics, construction, design, management, trade arbitration and other fields. Lee plans to visit the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai again. When President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia last year, Lee said that at that time, he proposed to increase exchanges in various fields, which was a good basis for the other party to understand Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities. In particular, Hong Kong, as a bridge to the Mainland, will do more promotion in this regard.
In terms of comprehensive border reopening, Lee said that since the debriefing, the government has made sufficient preparations, increased entry and safety factors, and also conducted drills. To cope with with large volume of cross-border traffic, the operation capacity will gradually increase, and the increase will be fast and orderly.