Hong Kong’s John Lee seeks closer ties in meeting with EU officials Hong Kong’s leader has sought to deepen ties with the EU in a meeting with the bloc’s representatives, saying the city will remain a free port despite growing protectionism globally. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday that he had hosted a lunch attended by Harvey Rouse, head of the Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macau, as well as 15 consuls general from the bloc’s member countries. The gathering served as a platform for direct dialogue and an exchange of views, with a focus on exploring new avenues to enhance economic, trade and development cooperation, Lee said in a social media post. He emphasised Hong Kong’s unique position as a “superconnector” and “super value-adder”, citing its low and simple tax regime, world-class infrastructure, diverse and multicultural talent pool, and broad spectrum of professional services. These attributes made the city an “ideal gateway between East and West”, Lee said. He also extended an invitation to businesses globally, including those from Europe, to “explore the vast array of opportunities” both in Hong Kong and mainland China. The lunch took place amid simmering US-China tensions, even as the two countries reached a deal during high-level talks in London on tariff cuts, rare earth exports, Chinese students attending US universities and a trade-war truce signed earlier in Geneva. The latest agreement is subject to final approval by the presidents of the two countries. The United States and China have been engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat tariff war in recent months, with the levy on Chinese goods at one point reaching 145 per cent. Lee said Hong Kong was “steadfast in its belief in multilateralism” in “today’s rapidly changing world, where protectionism is on the rise and geopolitical shifts create uncertainties”. “The success of global trade lies in collaboration, not isolation,” he said, reiterating Hong Kong’s “firm dedication to fostering free and open trade with all [its] partners, near and far”. Lee added: “Hong Kong has always been, and will continue to be, a free port.” According to the Trade Development Council, the EU was Hong Kong’s third-largest export market and its third-largest trading partner in 2023, after the mainland and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and the EU amounted to HK$510 billion that year, while Germany, the Netherlands and France were the city’s top three trading partners. Goods imported from the bloc also accounted for 5.1 per cent, or HK$237 billion, of Hong Kong’s total merchandise imports in 2023, with top goods including travel products and handbags, semiconductors, electronic valves and tubes, as well as pearls and precious stones. The city’s leader expressed confidence in the future of Hong Kong’s relationship with the EU. “I am confident that Hong Kong and the EU have so much potential to deepen collaboration as we work together to strengthen our professionalism in complementing each other,” he said. “Together, we can bring about positive changes to our shared future and can achieve so much more.” https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314062/hong-kongs-john-lee-seeks-closer-ties-meeting-eu-officials (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post