Hong Kong people's businesses have extended to Pakistan

A few days ago, I attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing together with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. This morning, I hosted a reception for the visiting Mr Sharif at Government House, and we attended the One Belt One Road - Pakistan Investment Forum together at noon.

Pakistan is a less familiar country to Hong Kong people, yet quite a number of Hong Kong enterprises, including Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong, have already set foot in Pakistan and are involved in various local infrastructure projects, including the Karot hydropower project, the Thar project and the Karachi-Lahore Motorway. Hong Kong enterprises provide various services for these projects, such as engineering services, environmental assessment and land use planning services, as well as asphalt mixing equipment and technical support services for road construction. A Hong Kong-based port operator is also taking part in managing two container terminals in Karachi.

Participants of the Forum held at noon included government officials and entrepreneurs from Pakistan, as well as Pakistanis who run businesses in Hong Kong. There were also entrepreneurs from the Mainland, as well as individuals from Hong Kong's financial, industrial, commercial and professional sectors. The mix of participants alone tells a lot about Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector" in taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative.

The sky for Hong Kong people will surely become larger and larger if we are willing and dare to fight for it.

May 17, 2017