Leading a delegation to Chongqing to explore opportunities

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government places great emphasis on economic development because we need persistent and more vigorous economic growth to enable all sectors in Hong Kong to prosper so that we can have sufficient capacity to improve people's livelihood. One major direction for fostering economic development is to assist local enterprises in capitalising on the opportunities arising from our country's development, exploring the Mainland market and identifying new growth points. This is the main objective of the current visit to Chongqing.This is the second time that I have led an economic and trade delegation on a visit since I took office. The first time was to New York in June this year. This time, the delegation consists of more than 90 members, including government officials. Apart from representatives of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), members of the delegation also come from major chambers of commerce in Hong Kong (including the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' & Exporters' Association) and the professional sector (including the Association of Hong Kong Professionals, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors). In addition, I have invited some overseas chambers of commerce in Hong Kong (including the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Singapore Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong)) to join the delegation in order to highlight the role of Hong Kong as a "super-connector" and "Chief Knowledge Officer". With our comprehensive knowledge about the world and our understanding of our country, we can act as an important intermediary for Chongqing to attract investment and go global, linking Chongqing enterprises with the rest of the world.

A core city in China's Western Region Development, Chongqing has made great strides in recent years. Chongqing and Hong Kong have very close economic and trade ties. In the first half of this year, total import and export trade between the two places amounted to about US$2 billion, representing an increase of more than 400 per cent over the same period last year, with the value of imports from Hong Kong to Chongqing even increasing 27 times to about US$300 million. These figures show that Hong Kong has all along been Chongqing's major partner in economic development. That is why Hong Kong businessmen and professionals are so keen to learn about Chongqing's latest investment environment and policies, which is reflected in the large size, high level and wide sectoral representation of this delegation. They all wish to take this opportunity to establish channels for exchanges and co-operation with a view to forging closer links between the two places.

We had a very tight schedule on the first day of our visit. We attended two exchange sessions to meet with representatives of Chongqing enterprises and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Chongqing respectively. We also joined the Chongqing-Hong Kong Business Symposium (in which the relocation ceremony of the Chongqing Liaison Unit of the HKSAR Government and the opening ceremony of the Chongqing Office of the HKTDC also took place) and witnessed the signing ceremony of agreements on Chongqing-Hong Kong co-operation projects and the unveiling ceremony of the Hong Kong Industrial Park in Chongqing. In the evening, members of the delegation and I met with the Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, Mr Sun Zhengcai, to exchange views on economic and trade co-operation between the two places.

After this visit to Chongqing, I will lead other delegations to visit Guangxi and Fujian in November this year and January next year respectively. The HKSAR Government will continue to work on closer internal relations and enhance regional co-operation. I hope that all sectors of the community will work together to promote Hong Kong's economic development.

Video of the Chief Executive speaking at the Chongqing-Hong Kong Business Luncheon

Video of the Chief Executive speaking at the Chongqing-Hong Kong Business Symposium

Video of the Chief Executive attending the Chongqing-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Co-operation Exchange Meeting and meeting with the Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee

Mr Leung speaks at the Chongqing-Hong Kong Business Luncheon and meets with representatives of Chongqing enterprises.		Mr Leung and the Mayor of Chongqing Municipality, Mr Huang Qifan, witness the signing of Chongqing-Hong Kong economic and trade co-operation agreements, and officiate at the unveiling ceremony of the Hong Kong Industrial Park in Chongqing.
Mr Leung speaks at the Chongqing-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Co-operation Exchange Meeting.		Mr Leung meets with the Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, Mr Sun Zhengcai, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
Mr Leung speaks at the Chongqing-Hong Kong Business Symposium.		Mr Leung officiates at the relocation ceremony of the Chongqing Liaison Unit of the HKSAR Government and the opening ceremony of the Chongqing Office of the HKTDC.

September 26, 2013