"Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" Inspires London Audience
2017年9月22日 - 11:00PM
JCN Newswire
"Think Asia, Think Hong Kong," a large-scale Hong Kong business
promotion organised in London by the Hong Kong Trade Development
Council (HKTDC) and supported by more than 60 UK organisations,
attracted over 2,100 participants from the United Kingdom, Hong
Kong and the Chinese mainland.
Over a three-day period (19-21 September), a series of activities
were held, including business missions, a gala dinner, and a
full-day symposium featuring 50 high-profile speakers in panel
discussions and thematic seminars, plus more than 220 business
matching meetings. Returning to the UK since its launch in 2011,
this flagship promotion profiled Hong Kong's strengths as a
business hub for British companies looking to expand to China and
Asia. Building on the close ties between the UK and Hong Kong,
businesses were urged to consider new collaboration opportunities
such as technology (including FinTech), marketing and branding,
creative and entertainment, as well as the potential from the Belt
and Road Initiative.
Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said, "Trade and
investment has been the bedrock of our business relationship". Ms
Fong also mentioned the new trade flows which are emerging and the
new trade cooperation agreements which are being put into place
such as the upcoming Free Trade Agreement with the 10-nation ASEAN
community.
The Hong Kong delegation was led by Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor,
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR), who reminded the audience of the long-standing trade and
economic relationship with the UK and added, "Despite the
continuous opening up of the Mainland China economy, Hong Kong
continues to be an ideal gateway for foreign companies, including,
of course, British companies, to tap the fast-growing Greater China
market. The unique advantages that Hong Kong enjoys under 'one
country, two systems' and our very strong commercial links with the
Mainland of China naturally make us the preferred location for
doing business in Asia."
Guest of honour Greg Hands, Minister of State for Trade Policy and
Minister for London, said he was pleased that London is the first
city to host "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" twice and commented, "I
strongly believe that the UK and Hong Kong are only just beginning
to realise the opportunities for our partnership".
Closer partnerships in the new economic order
The morning symposium started with a lively and upbeat panel on
Asia in the New Economic Order, which covered many of Hong Kong's
defining advantages such as its legal framework and infrastructure
and discussed the need to take advantage of the great opportunity
that Asia currently offers. Victor Chu, Chairman, First Eastern
Investment Group, described Hong Kong as "buzzing, active and at
the cutting edge of innovation and the best bridge to China and
other parts of Asia"; while Douglas Flint, Group Chairman, HSBC
Holdings plc, describing the Belt and Road Initiative as "one of
the most exciting concepts ever to have been conceived" and a "huge
opportunity for Asia".
Navigating Belt and Road opportunities through Hong Kong
The Belt and Road Initiative, described as currently the largest
and most important global development plan, was a recurring key
theme of the day and featured in "The Belt and Road Initiative:
Partnering for Prosperity" panel discussion during the main
symposium as well as in the thematic session "Hong Kong: Gateway to
Belt and Road Opportunities", co-organised with the HKMA
Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO). Gregory
Hodkinson, Chairman, ARUP Group Ltd, described the Belt and Road as
a modern global initiative that is "more than a growth story, it is
a story about the fundamental choices we face as a shared society".
Laura Cha, Chairman, Financial Services Development Council, Hong
Kong, explained that "financing demand is where the Hong Kong
advantage comes in - it is the primary market for Chinese companies
to access capital".
Tapping the Chinese mainland and Asian markets
According to a recent research among 1,000 UK companies
commissioned by the HKTDC, the biggest opportunities that
businesses recognise for launching into the Chinese mainland is its
huge consumer base (42%), followed by its growing middle class
(35%) and ability to be early adopters of technology (27%).
The thematic session "Doing Business in China and throughout Asia"
highlighted the opportunity around Asia's burgeoning middle-class
consumers and the importance of e-commerce in expanding into this
market with Michelle Leung, Senior Vice President, Fung Omni
Services, Fung Group, explaining how easy it is to kick-start
setting up a business in just two to three months. The changing
nature of business was highlighted by Jonathan Cummings, Chairman,
FITCH Hong Kong, who said, "Ten years ago, it was all about the big
brands, consumers are becoming more and more market savvy and niche
brands are gaining popularity".
Exploring Hong Kong's FinTech ecosystem
Hong Kong, as an international financial centre with a highly
developed information and communications technology infrastructure,
is well-positioned to become a premier FinTech hub. In the thematic
session on the topic of "Hong Kong: Asia's FinTech Capital", Dr Lee
George Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport, opened by saying
"China is the largest FinTech market in the world and it is
growing". Dr David Chung Wai-keung, Under Secretary for Innovation
and Technology of the HKSAR Government, added "Hong Kong will
become Asia's FinTech Capital" as Li Shu-Pui, Executive Director,
Financial Infrastructure, HKMA, confirmed that "any Chinese
companies wanting to go global come to Hong Kong first".
Strengthening UK-China cooperation in innovation
As UK enterprises expand into Asia, Chinese mainland and Asian
companies are also looking for international investment and
business opportunities with UK companies. Hong Kong is the ideal
facilitator to help both sides find the right partners, matching
relevant businesses together and providing professional services
throughout the process.
The fourth thematic session UK-Sino Investment Partnerships in
Innovation and Technologies focussed on how the "connectivity"
between Hong Kong, China and the UK helps businesses start and grow
in Hong Kong. Speakers were positive in their outlook for Hong
Kong's position, with Shusen Meng, President, China Unicom Global
Ltd, commenting "I have no doubt that Europe and the rest of the
world will rely on Hong Kong as a super connector".
"Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" website:
http://www.thinkasiathinkhk.com/2017
"Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" video:
https://youtu.be/HxwFWYC2lb0
"Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" London 2017 highlights video:
https://youtu.be/-HqJZgb5L38
Photo download link: http://bit.ly/2yuAGsf
About HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
(HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for
Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally,
including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong
as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world.
With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international
exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide
companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the
mainland and in international markets, while providing information
via trade publications, research reports and digital channels
including the media room. For more information, please visit:
www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc,
LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council
Contact:
In the first instance, please contact the HKTDC's London press
office:
Joanna Dodd
Tel: +44 (0)20 3874 3056/ +44 (0)7887 508736
Email: joanna.dodd@rochesterprgroup.com
The HKTDC London office:
Martin Evans
Tel: +44 (0)20 7616 9504
Email: martin.evans@hktdc.org
And for Hong Kong specific enquiries, the HKTDC's Communication and
Public Affairs Department in Hong Kong:
Vince Lung
Tel: +852 2584 4341
Email: vince.mh.lung@hktdc.org
配信代行: JCN
Source: HKTDC
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