Chief Executive John Lee delivered a speech at the Hong Kong - The Ideal Platform for Mainland Enterprises in Going Global Promotion Conference in Shanghai today.

The event highlighted Hong Kong’s unique strengths and role in assisting Mainland enterprises in expanding internationally, with a view to encouraging them to use Hong Kong as a platform for going global to tap into overseas markets.

This year’s Policy Address announced the establishment of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to proactively engage Mainland enterprises to go global via Hong Kong.

The conference, the task force’s first large-scale promotional event on the Mainland, attracted 500 participants.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lee noted that the country is implementing a high-level strategy of two-way opening up to encourage Mainland enterprises to go global, and the momentum of Mainland enterprises’ international expansion is accelerating.

The Chief Executive said under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world, serving as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, in addition to attracting global capital and top talent and boasting a highly internationalised business environment, world-class professional services, a common law system aligned with global financial centres, a simple and transparent tax regime, and an extensive logistics network, adding that these core strengths make Hong Kong the best platform for Mainland enterprises to go global.

​Noting that the country is expanding the scope of its high-level opening up, Mr Lee said both Shanghai and Hong Kong play crucial roles in supporting regional co-ordinated development and complement each other.

Hong Kong will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, actively dovetail with national strategies, and work with the Mainland to create a new chapter of mutually beneficial co-operation, Mr Lee added.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, who chairs the GoGlobal Task Force, told the conference that the task force will establish an efficient, effective and unprecedented one-stop support platform for Mainland enterprises going global, strengthening assistance for them to systematically expand international operations via Hong Kong amid the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.

​Mr Yau also said the task force will continue to organise promotional activities across various provinces on the Mainland.

Also addressing the promotion conference were Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xu Qifang.

Other speakers included Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Wu Wei; Deputy Director General of the Department of Outward Investment & Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce Wang Qi; and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Chairman Prof Frederick Ma.

​A number of Hong Kong business leaders highlighted Hong Kong’s strengths in innovation and technology, financial services and professional services at the promotion conference, and Mainland enterprise representatives shared their successful experiences of using Hong Kong as a gateway to go global.

The event was also attended by Director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip and Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Maggie Wong.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau and Commissioner for Industry (Innovation & Technology) Ge Ming hosted two thematic networking sessions on serving Mainland enterprises seeking to go global, and innovation and technology.

The promotion conference was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the HKTDC.

Mr Lee and the delegation returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.