Chief Executive Carrie Lam today held an online dialogue with more than 700 entrepreneurs and business executives from different corners of continental Europe to highlight Hong Kong's unique advantages for doing business.

The dialogue session was co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Brussels and the HKETO in Berlin with other business associations of Europe.

Mrs Lam said at the session that with Hong Kong's strategic location and unique advantages under "one country, two systems", the city represents the ideal gateway for European companies to access the vast Mainland China market, in particular, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

She noted that the Mainland is the only major economy in the world that recorded a positive growth in 2020, and that its future prospects are bright under its new economic model of dual circulation and the 14th Five-Year Plan.

As Hong Kong continues to integrate into the nation's development, there will be ample opportunities for Hong Kong as well as the European enterprises that invest in the city, she added.

Noting that European enterprises are leading the world in terms of green technology and experience in its relevant aspects, Mrs Lam invited European enterprises to seize the business opportunities as the Mainland and Hong Kong move towards green and sustainable development.

The Chief Executive also noted that Hong Kong is leveraging on its strengths as an international financial centre and will continue to promote green finance.

Mrs Lam addressed wide-ranging questions from the session participants, covering the National Security Law, the strategy to control COVID-19, Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-operation in technology development and the bay area's business prospects.

Regarding the National Security Law, the Chief Executive emphasised that it is fully justified and legitimate for the National People’s Congress to enact and implement legislation to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and that foreign governments should not interfere.

She told the participants that the rights and freedoms of the people in Hong Kong are constitutionally protected and will continue to be upheld, and with stability restored since the law’s enactment, Hong Kong will remain one of the safest cities in the world.