Chief Executive CY Leung has proposed that Hong Kong and India boost collaboration by inviting young people from both sides, particularly those working in the innovation and technology sectors, to visit each other's homelands.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai today Mr Leung said India has a strong innovation and technology base, particularly in information-technology. He encouraged young people working in India's innovation and technology sector to visit Hong Kong.
He also wants to encourage young Hong Kong people to see opportunities in India.
"In the Policy Address that I delivered about two weeks ago, there are a number of major initiatives to give our innovation, science and technology sector a big boost, including helping start-up businesses. So that is one of the areas in the scope of collaboration between Hong Kong and India in future."
He noted that the scope of possible collaboration between Hong Kong and India covers not just trade but an entire spectrum of exchange.
"Hong Kong owns and also manages quite effectively and efficiently a large manufacturing base, for example in the Mainland of China. We are also in Vietnam, other parts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, and so Hong Kong has good experience and the necessary expertise of managing production lines outside of Hong Kong. And so if Hong Kong can do that in Mainland China, in ASEAN, why shouldn't Hong Kong do it as well in India?
"This visit has attracted the interest of 40 top business leaders. It must mean that they are hopeful about the prospects of expanding their business in India or entering the Indian market for the first time. Sooner or later they'll need additional capital, and much of this additional capital could be in the form of new equity. And so the possibility of such Hong Kong-owned and Hong Kong-managed businesses listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange, that must be a possibility and there must be a prospect."
He also noted that leveraging on the combined benefits of "one country, two systems" Hong Kong can play an important role as a super-connector between India, the Mainland and the rest of the world.
