The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the People's Government of Anhui Province hosted a seminar in Hefei, Anhui Province, today (August 8), encouraging local enterprises to leverage Hong Kong's business advantages and platform to tap new investment opportunities and accelerate their expansion in overseas markets.
      
     The event entitled "Hong Kong - Unparalleled Opportunities to Expand Your Global Business", is also part of the 25th anniversary celebration series of the HKSAR's establishment. It was co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Anhui Province and co-hosted by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the People's Government of Hefei Municipality as well as supported by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Hefei Municipality, the Hefei Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Hefei Municipal Finance Affairs Office, and the Federation of Industry and Commerce of Hefei.
                             
     The event began with welcoming remarks delivered via video by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, followed by InvestHK's Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips. Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Anhui Province Mr Fan Zhonghou delivered welcoming remarks at the seminar in Hefei, encouraging Anhui enterprises to "go global" via Hong Kong.
      
     Mr Chan said, "The country has all along been providing its strongest support for Hong Kong. Under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong has been able to utilise its own advantages to contribute to the Mainland's opening up. In particular, our city offers a major bridge and middleman function for Mainland enterprises seeking to go global and for foreign companies seeking access to Mainland market."
      
     Mr Chan continued, "Hong Kong's open and international business environment, which includes free flow of goods, information and capital, the common law regime and the rule of law, attracted global investors, drawing capital, talents and companies from all over the world engaged in all sorts of financial and commercial activities. Hong Kong no doubt is the ideal base for Mainland enterprises to develop their global reach." Mr Chan welcomed Anhui enterprises to connect with the world via Hong Kong so as to lift their brands to the next level and expand their business in all over the globe.
      
     Mr Phillips said, "Under the 14th Five-Year Plan, the Central Government supports Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international financial centre, an international transportation centre, an international trade centre, and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. What is more, Hong Kong is supported to establish and develop 'four emerging centres' - international aviation, international innovation and technology, regional intellectual property trading, as well as arts and cultural exchange between the Mainland and the rest of the world. Anhui province is home to some tremendous businesses with great potential in global markets. Hong Kong can play a powerful catalytic role to help them capture these opportunities and fuel their growth."
          
     The Head of the Investment Promotion Unit of InvestHK in Shanghai, Mr Philip Kung, explained about how local companies can make use of Hong Kong's business advantages in their overseas expansion plan and introduced the diverse services of InvestHK to Mainland clients at the event. Other speakers included Immigration Officer, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Government of the HKSAR, Mr Jack Yan; Director, Markets and Securities Services, HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Mr Terry Qian; the Partner, China Tax and Business Advisory Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers Consultants (Shenzhen Limited) Hefei Branch, Mr Andy Sun; and Senior Partner, All Bright Law Offices, Mr Yu Bingguang. They discussed the immigration schemes for Mainland professionals going to Hong Kong, the city's diversified financial professional services for Mainland companies, tax advantages upgrading companies' business operations, and the integrated legal system in Hong Kong. Finally, a representative from a local enterprise, Deputy General Manager of Anhui JAC Investment Co Ltd Mr Liu Tuanjie, shared his experience of how local enterprises leverage Hong Kong's international platform to expand overseas.
                       
     For event photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720301135381.

Ends/Monday, August 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:03

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