HK to play super-connector for Belt and Road Initiative

(Xinhua) Updated: 2015-08-10 10:14

Leung also revealed that the SAR government is considering an appropriate way, including setting up an official organ, to participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

He believed that Hong Kong's enterprises home and abroad could provide their business experiences and contribute to the country's ambitious program and Hong Kong's role within it.

"People from Singapore often told me that they envy Hong Kong has many successful businessmen, such as Li Ka-shing. I told them that Hong Kong also has many medium-and-small companies which have achieved success in overseas. We should support them, promote their overseas businesses," he said.

Leung said Hong Kong should reinforce its position of a place for enterprises' headquarters in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Even in agriculture, Hong Kong's enterprises have obtained market shares and experience in the mainland and overseas. So we should encourage more companies to choose Hong Kong as the place for their headquarters, which will benefit Hong Kong's economy," he said.

To participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong's enterprises have many choices other than the region's dominant trade, logistics, finance, tourism and professional services, said Leung.

Stock farming and even chemical industry will also be appropriate choices, he added.

The chief executive also noted that Hong Kong's "super-connector" function are not limited in the economic field, but also works in scientific aspect.

Swedish Karolinska Institute, one of the largest and most prestigious medical universities in the world, has decided to set up a research center in Hong Kong, the first of its kind outside Sweden. The University of Chicago and Cornell University have also established cooperative research facilities in Hong Kong.

"Why did Hong Kong attract these world-class scientific institutions?" Leung said, "Because they want very much to cooperate with the Chinese mainland with a platform in Hong Kong where they are more familiar with the legal systems and lifestyle. "

According to Leung, the SAR government will open more overseas economic and trade offices to meet a growing demand to promote Hong Kong. So far, the SAR government has set up 11 economic and trade offices overseas.

However, Leung noted that there are still some obstacles inside Hong Kong despite government efforts to boost economic development and improve people's livelihood.