September 13, 2023
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region intends to strengthen trade and investment ties with Hainan province to help Hainan enterprises go global, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Tuesday.
Lee made the remarks during a meeting with Governor of Hainan Province Liu Xiaoming to exchange views on further deepening Hong Kong’s cooperation with Hainan, according to an HKSAR government statement.
Lee also said that Hong Kong’s large pool of talents can provide support for the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, while creating greater room for development for talents in the SAR’s professional service industries
He said that the SAR has all along been adopting a free trade policy and a legal system in line with international standards.
Hong Kong and Hainan can complement each other by leveraging Hong Kong’s advantage as a highly internationalized city and seizing the development opportunities of the Hainan Free Trade Port to help Hainan enterprises go global, Lee added.
The chief executive also welcomed Hainan province’s decision to issue bonds in Hong Kong again, after the province issued offshore Renminbi local government bonds in the city in October last year.
Noting that the bond portfolio issued this time includes bonds related to sustainable development, biodiversity and marine ecosystem, Lee said the SAR can leverage its strengths as an international financial center to connect the flow of green and sustainable funds with the Chinese mainland and the world and promote green investments.
Noting that Hong Kong has a large pool of talent in professional service industries such as accounting, finance, law and innovation and technology, Lee also said that these talents can provide support for the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, while creating greater room for development for talents in the SAR’s professional service industries.
Also attending the meeting were Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip Man-kuen.