Chief Executive John Lee arrived in Hainan this afternoon to attend a dinner event of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023, meet Hainan Province leaders and visit local medical tourism facilities.

Mr Lee's first stop was the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone where he toured a medical equipment exhibition and the Boao Super Hospital. He also visited Hainan Deya Hospital, the first hospital in the pilot zone with investment from Hong Kong enterprises.

The Chief Executive was pleased to learn that a number of projects in the zone involving Hong Kong enterprises are under construction or planning, representing vast business opportunities in Hainan for Hong Kong companies and the contribution made by Hong Kong’s professional services sector to the development of Hainan’s “medical special zone”.

In the evening, Mr Lee met CPC Hainan Provincial Committee Secretary and Hainan Province Governor Feng Fei.

Mr Feng said he looked forward to the two places’ full utilisation of their complementary advantages, the enhancement of their exchange and co-operation mechanism, and the development of a Hainan-Hong Kong economic co-operation development pilot zone. He also hoped to accelerate co-operation in such fields as professional services, medical care, tourism, retail, and investment and talent attraction, and to promote Hong Kong youths’ innovation and entrepreneurship endeavours in Hainan.

Noting that the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference is held fully physically this year, Mr Lee said he was pleased to join this major annual event in person.

He pointed out that the rich experience and international connectivity of professional sectors in Hong Kong could facilitate Hainan’s development into a free trade port.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is willing to co-operate with the People’s Government of Hainan Province to explore measures for promoting exchanges and development in Hainan by Hong Kong professional services sector and youths, in order to achieve a win-win situation, he added.

Separately, an initiative on global free trade zone partnership was announced in the Global Free Trade Ports Development Forum at the Boao Forum for Asia this morning. Mr Lee said Hong Kong supports and participates in the initiative to jointly promote the interplay between domestic and international markets and resources while highlighting Hong Kong’s role as a strong supporter of trade and investment liberalisation.

The Chief Executive will attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 opening plenary as well as the Boao Forum for Asia & Hainan Provincial Government Joint Welcome Dinner, and continue his Hainan visit tomorrow.