Valuing Hong Kong's links with the international community

Hong Kong is a global metropolis with close ties to foreign countries in areas such as financial services, trade and tourism. Also, a large number of Hong Kong students study abroad, and many of our young people have gone overseas in recent years under the Working Holiday Scheme to broaden their horizons. Hong Kong is authorised under the Basic Law to maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with foreign states and regions and relevant international organisations on its own in the appropriate fields, and these include economic, trade, shipping, communications, tourism, cultural and sports. We can also participate in international organisations and conferences in these fields.

Consequently, many countries around the world attach great importance to their relations with Hong Kong, as evident in the large number of foreign representative bodies in the territory and their frequent events. All bureau and department heads of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and I maintain good and close working relationships with the representatives of foreign countries in Hong Kong.

During the last two weeks I met separately with the consuls general of six countries in Hong Kong. I also attended receptions in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea.

The HKSAR Government will keep up its efforts to strengthen our trade and economic ties, people-to-people exchanges and co-operation in other areas with foreign countries to further enhance Hong Kong's status. We will also continue to play our role as the country's "super-connector".

October 7, 2015